Serious accident victims will be penalised by legal help reforms

Two paralympians have recently commented that those who are the victims of serious accidents will find themselves penalised by proposed legal help reforms and unable to claim sufficient compensation.

Gold medal winner Baroness Masham of Ilton, who is also president of the Spinal Injuries Association, told the Guardian that members of the medical and legal communities are feeling uncomfortable about the suggested changes.

"The trouble is that when you try to save money you hit the most vulnerable. People who have broken their necks or backs need all the compensation they can get," she said.

Meanwhile Skier Talan Skeels-Piggins pointed out to the news source that possible cuts in compensation payouts would have a huge effect on how severely injured people spend their lives as these people need large amounts of money to get sufficient rehabilitation.

In addition, the importance of free legal help was also described by former magistrate Anthony Martin, who told the Express and Echo that people who could not get legal aid and representation in court were having justice snatched from them.

Published by Hannah Carr