No more transport based rants for a couple of days now. I promise.
So what's got my goat that does not have wheels, paddles, jets or skis?
Our compensation culture.
Accidents happen
What a suprise!?
And ipso facto, by advent of them being accidents - there is not always someone to blame.
Despite this, every day - claims are made and cases won for peoples clumsiness or bad luck.
The problem is, someone has to pay for it don't they? The money does not materialise from thin air, everyone steps on a wobbly paving slab and sprains their ankle.
And we all pay for it - one way or another.
How, I hear you cry?
I shall tell you...
Most of the money for compensation claims comes from insurance companies of one kind or another (mostly car insurance companies.)
For an insurance company to be profitable - the golden rules for success are simply:
A: Don't pay out any money
B: Don't pay out any money
C: Under no circumstances, do not pay out any money
D: See the above
As such - it hurts them to their black - black hearts, every time. It's their profit they are giving away, and they need that - for hiring aristocratic eastern block meerkats and the like
So what do they do? They increase the insurance premiums (covering the claims in each area with a good bit besides)
To put this in context, my car insurance would cost a third as much if I still lived at my mums. Same car, same driver - but surrounded by people who drive the premiums up.
The same issues come about when people trip over loose paving slabs and the like. People then sue the council - because once again, there must be someone to blame. This hurts once again everyones pockets - its your taxes that need to be handed out.
I'm not saying that there should not be compensation when wrongs have taken place. Car accidents for instance can be someone's fault - and it is fair that their insurance company pay the relevant costs.
There are so many grey areas however. Look at whiplash - for instance. It's almost impossible to prove but can be very debilitating for those who are properly affected.
The issue is, that it is a stock compensation favorite - for those out to make a quick buck from a minor accident. This raises premiums considerably and has the added side effect of making the genuine claimants seem like liars too.
It's a well known fact that - because it is so hard to prove, it is almost impossible to defend in course.
That compensation is big money is obvious - just turn on a TV and watch for a couple of hours - I can almost guarantee that you will see an advertisement for 'injury lawyers for you', 'national accident' or a myriad of others.
We need to stop this ambulance chasing culture - and only help those who really need it.
Rant over.
No comments:
Post a Comment