Common sense has prevailed – we should hope we’ve turned the corner

TWO chancers hire two separate cars. They stage a crash. An ambulance is called, with the pair claiming whiplash which requires them to be strapped into stretchers.

They are brought to hospital. Ambulances and medics have their time taken up dealing with the “accident victims”.

Later, the pair consult solicitors who operate for them on a no-foal, no-fee basis, and a huge claim is subsequently made against the insurance company.

Eventually the case winds its way to court, where through good detective work on behalf of the insurer, it emerges that the pair have a history of claims which they have conveniently failed to disclose, something which is a criminal offence.

This revelation blows open the whole charade and their claims are thrown out by the judge.

Costs are awarded against them, but they are never prosecuted for perjury despite the insurance company pleading with the Garda to go after them.

Their treatment means there is little downside to taking an exaggerated or a fraudulent case.

This is why our compensation system has become a chancer’s charter, with many snouts in the trough.

Whiplash is the favoured fake injury.

The legal profession is sucking up huge fees from the racket, a cost borne by the insured public.

Also benefiting from the gravy train are medical professionals.

The Irish College of General Practitioners admitted earlier this year that the majority of compensated whiplash claims are “frankly spurious”.

Remember too that a leading neurosurgeon has said whiplash is a myth and written reports of it are mainly detailing non-existent injuries.

Dr Charles Marks, a UCC lecturer, says the whiplash epidemic is a multi-billion euro gravy train that produces a good living for the medical profession and for solicitors and barristers, and of course the victims.

Thankfully the judiciary is taking notice of the corrosive effect our compo culture is having on society – pushing up the cost of insurance massively to the point that drivers can’t afford it, and street festivals have to be cancelled.

The ruling by Mr Justice Paul Butler in refusing to award damages to a woman who sued after a stationary bus she was in was hit by a rented car is hugely significant.

The defence of “minimalimpact” won the day. We should all rejoice that common sense has triumphed.

Hopefully it heralds the beginning of the end of our toxic compo culture where every little accident is an opportunity to sue for mega bucks, and fake claims go unpunished.