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| The Meaning of the Word Accident? - C4F Archived News |
An accident used to mean just that, an "accident". These days, an accident is generally associated with the phrase "you may be due compensation!" which is simply a product of greed and does not reflect the attitude of a society-based culture. If you take away the nation's right to make mistakes then we live in a society where everyone lives in fear of taking chances, helping each other out and even offering advice. Soon no-one will dare help that old lady across the road in-case she trips on the way across. When did the UK public lose sight of the God-given right to be wrong?
In Collins Concise Dictionary the word "accident" is listed as:
1. an unforeseen event or one without an apparent cause.
2. anything that occurs unintentionally or by chance.
If we stand by our own standard bearer of language then surely we must be able to accept that yes, someone may be able to be blamed for something - but should you blame them?
We live in an accident prone society. Firstly they let us drive cars - then they give us mobile phones, super-powered sound systems, navigation systems, tinted windscreens, text messaging, drinks holders, ash trays and drive-through fast food to go with it. What did we expect to happen? Accidents are the price we pay for having an advanced society. The more risks we take to develop our technology, deliver faster service and pander to the needs of the forever-bored next generation the more accidents will occur - if Columbus thought he could have been sued for injuries do you think he would have bothered leaving port?
What can be done to turn the tide? Well, firstly, we have to stop blaming the claims management firms for people wanting to claim. Many of the ethical claims management firms offer a perfectly legitimate and useful service which basic human greed has over-responded to. It is often too easy to blame the gun-maker and not the maniac holding the smoking gun. Our army needs guns to protect our countries freedom - Joe Bloggs at number 32 Victoria Street doesn't need a gun. A woman who was the victim of a drunk-driver smashing into her taking away her ability to work for several months deserves compensation - a drunk who falls over a slightly raised paving slab doesn't.
The public needs to take responsibility for its own actions and take a long hard look at itself in the mirror. It needs to ask itself if it wants to create a country where children cannot go out to play because play-parks are too much of a liability to the council. Where employers live in fear of their own employees and businesses go bankrupt because of a wet-patch on the floor that was left unattended for five seconds. Where insurance costs rise so high that home budgets are stretched to breaking point.
Oliver Letwin, the Dorset West MP said in a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies: "Our obsession with risk minimisation is imposing terrible risks on society ... when charitable work is derailed by excessive regulation this is an attack on the most vulnerable people in our communities." He went on to quote figures of over £400million paid out in 2003 by the NHS in compensation with a further £5billion more in cases waiting to be settled which brought the statement: "Given such liabilities, one begins to understand the compulsive caution spreading through our schools, hospitals and police forces, and, for that matter, through society as a whole ... the call to minimise risk is a call for a cowardly society. Society must learn to accept and manage risk."
Personal injury compensation claims are not bad things, some people suffer financial hardship if they cannot work due to injuries. Some go through excruciating pain for injuries that weren't their fault. There are so many valid reasons for compensation to be paid out to individuals who have suffered but just because someone can be sued doesn't mean they are to blame. - Written 24/09/04*
Other Archived Articles:
> Claims: The Rising Cost to the UK?
> Compensation Claims Pros & Cons
> The Claims Management Company
> Fraudulent Claims in the UK
> Is there a Huge Rise in the Number of Claims?
> NHS Compensation Claims
*Disclaimer: This article has been marked as "archived" because, although most of the information may still be relevant, the article was written more than two years ago which may mean that some information may be outdated. Although this site is updated as often as possible the information provided may not accurately reflect the current laws, procedures and/or facilities available to you. To ensure that you get the most up to date information make sure you consult an actual solicitor before pursuing any action. The articles on this site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to advise any particular action or inaction. Please read our terms of use for more information.
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