Revised code welcomed by lawyers & insurers
Insurers and claimant and defendant lawyers have welcomed the publication of a revised code for negotiating rehabilitation.
The code, first published in 1999, provides a negotiating framework for insurers and claimant lawyers when considering the health needs of injured people. While voluntary, it is attached to the pre-action protocol for personal injury claims and is widely used.
The revised code now has a separate section for lower-value claims (those with a value of up to £25,000), recognising the need for a more streamlined process. It is also, for the first time, accompanied by a guide for rehabilitation case managers. The revisions have been made by a working party of the Association of British Insurers and the International Underwriting Association, following industry consultation.
Mark Baylis, chair of the working party, says: “The rehabilitation code has created a sea change in personal injury claims and enabled hundreds of thousands of people to receive treatment they would otherwise have been denied, but it needed updating.
“This new version is a big improvement, while remaining true to the principles of the original code that all parties should work together to help claimants recover as quickly and completely as possible from their injuries.”
Neil Sugarman, vice president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), says: “A truly collaborative approach between lawyers and insurers can help to get the right rehab in place quickly, speeding up the recovery of the injured person, offering a better quality of life and an earlier return to work.”
The revised code is due to become operational from 1 December 2015.
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