Almost a fifth of UK adults would not take legal action if they were to suffer a serious injury, with many worried that it would affect them financially, new research has shown.
According to a survey by Fletchers Serious Injury, 19.1% of Brits would not take the matter further if they suffered an injury through no fault of their own.
Nearly four in 10 (41%) respondents cited a lack of knowledge and understanding about how to make a claim, while a third (33%) admitted they would worry about the financial cost of pursuing a claim. Concern about a lack of financial resources was even greater among the over-65s, where 43% of respondents considered it a barrier.
Concern about how legal action would affect the other party also featured among 19% of respondents, while 17% would not claim due to fears of being a burden on their loved ones.
The findings come as industry figures from the Ministry of Justice revealed that personal injury claims were at their lowest rate in eight years.
Adrian Denson, chief legal officer, Fletchers Serious Injury, said: “The findings of this research reveal that millions may be struggling without the justice that is their legal right. Particularly nowadays, there is a real concern that those who need support the most may simply opt to ‘suffer in silence’ and not seek the support they need.”
Denson added: “The varied reasons for this reluctance only highlight the need for those with the power to instigate positive change, such as the legal profession and the government, to do more to educate the public about their rights and the options available to them. Only then will we see more accessible, wide-ranging solutions to help improve access to justice for those who need it most.”
