Contents:

Market Context Consumer Focus Competitive Dynamics Future Decoded INTRODUCTION What is this report about? Who is the target reader? How to use this report MARKET CONTEXT Introduction Key findings The personal injury claims sector The current size of the market Split by category of injury The potential size of the personal injury market Road Traffic Accidents Sizing the potential RTA personal injury market Employers' Liability Injuries in the workplace Sizing the potential employers liability personal injury market Work related ill-health Asbestos - the long term nightmare General liability Home safe home? Leisure or pain? Making a personal injury claim Claiming Options The impact of the reforms to the Access to Justice Act 1999 The withdrawal of legal aid Private Funding Conditional Fee Agreements: The key to the courtroom door? Legal Expenses Insurance Recoverability issue: baited breath on both sides The lines are drawn In the blue corner..... Insurance companies and FOIL In the red corner..... claimant representatives Lack of governmental clarity or guidance An attempt to find some common ground Why insurers are so worried The impact of increased claims frequency Insurers under seige? The impact of a changing legal environment The Road Traffic (NHS charges) Act 1999 The Ogden tables The Woolf reforms The ruling of the Court of Appeal What can the insurance industry do? Raise premiums Risk management - prevention the best medicine Rehabilitation is central to reducing personal injury claims Speed and proactivity are vital Legal Expenses Insurance - can BTE eliminate the ATE market? Improve market information CONSUMER FOCUS Introduction Key findings Drivers and Trends Has Britain gone compensation crazy? Who is claiming? Factors stemming personal injury growth High-profile advertising and marketing to attract consumers Accident intermediaries throw their weight into advertising But where are the solicitors? Accident intermediaries: a wake up call for the legal profession in general Would people be prepared to pay for accident intermediary services Are contingency fees viable? The image problem of the sector Where there's pain there's gain Help the injured "We're the good guys".... "no, we are" Regulation: self-imposed or obligatory? Claims assessors under scrutiny Regulatory attention will focus on accident intermediaries Self-regulation will help to clear up market opacity Compensation culture is here to stay COMPETITIVE DYNAMICS Introduction Key Findings Market share of players Trade Unions Accident Intermediaries Are they really that expensive? Why are they currently on top? Future direction The Legal Profession A large number of small players Accident intermediaries: a threat or an opportunity? What are the alternatives? New products being developed for the legal industry: the end of CFAs? What are the implications of personal injury for the legal industry as a whole? Credit hire companies and claims assessors Credit hirers Claims assessors ATE vs. BTE BTE Legal Expenses Insurance Profiles Accident Intermediaries The Accident Group Introduction Process Solicitor relationships ATE Insurance Advertising and marketing Market share and size of company SWOT analysis Claims Direct Introduction Process Solicitor relationships Market positioning Market share and size of the company The troubles of Claims Direct: profits injury Can Claims Direct make a complete recovery? Advertising and Marketing SWOT analysis Accident Line Introduction Process Solicitor relationships ATE insurance Marketing and Advertising Market positioning Market share and size of the company SWOT analysis National Accident Helpline & TigerClaims Introduction Process Solicitor relationships Marketing and Advertising Market share and size of the company Lack of openness SWOT analysis Claimline Introduction Process Solicitor relationships ATE insurance Advertising and Marketing Market positioning Market share and size of the company SWOT analysis Individual Solicitors Irwin Mitchell Introduction Process ATE insurance Market positioning and competitive differentiation Market share and size of the company SWOT analysis Shoosmiths Introduction Process Market positioning Size and market share of the company SWOT analysis Thompsons Introduction Process Market share and size of the company Market positioning SWOT analysis THE FUTURE DECODED Introduction Key findings The Americanization of personal injury? Sobering facts US motor personal injury trends Lessons to be learned America: at the limits of civil litigation? The situation in the US workplace Personal injury decoded Factors likely to affect personal injury competitors Personal injury claims scenarios The personal injury industry view The US experience The Harvest Scenario The cost of the personal injury market Average awards ACTION POINTS Insurers Accident intermediaries Solicitors APPENDIX Supplementary data Glossary of terms Research Methodology Market Context Industry surveys and primary research Future decoded Bibliography Related Reading Current publications Future publications Relevant links SPP writing team How to contact an expert in your industry