Welcome to the forum Martin



I sympathise with your thoughts, most particularly as I sign cheques for thousands of pounds to pay for the malpractice, employers liability, personal accident, etc insurance every year. Since our beginnings several decades ago, we must have shelled out some £100k all up, and never a claim.

But ... I have had a couple of people "try it on" and claim our staff were liable for a relative's misfortune. Luckily, these have fallen at the first hurdle when the complainant is asked to write to us with full details of what they believe happened and the contribution of our staff to the misfortune, so that we can refer it to our insurers ... and then you never hear anything.

On the other hand, we have had a couple of incidents over the years where we have had "near misses" that could have given rise to a claim. You never know what unfortunate incident may occur. Not us, but an ambulance service not far from us some years ago. Crew carry a heavy patient on a carry chair out the front door. The one going backwards catches his foot on the door surround as they lift her out. He stumbles, his mate tries to hold it together but she is too heavy and they all fall in a heap on the concrete path. The lady sustains arm fracture. She is fine about the whole thing, people are always tripping over it since she had the new front door. Just one of those things. Never mind. Next day, enter the son - a solicitor by profession ......... That was when the crew discovered that their employer had not renewed their insurance because things were a bit tight

My understanding is that some insurers will offer a couple of thousand and a couple of words (the second of which is "off") because it is cheaper than trying to fight a case, however fragile the complaint.





So I grit my teeth and sign the cheques