New service launched to deal with Mishandled Mining Injury Claims

Two specialist firms in the North East have thrown their collective weight behind the crusade to give injured miners a fair deal in this long running saga. The Guardian reported that many solicitors were making millions from the Governments two schemes to compensate former miners who, as a result of their mining work, contracted chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger, while the miners themselves received a pittance. Now it appears that the reason for some miners receiving so little may have been due to mishandling of their claims by their legal advisers. As reported by the Law Society Gazette on 1st October 2009, John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, has called for former coal miners to rally round and sue their legal advisers if they believe their compensation claim was under-settled.

This collaboration between Neil Hudgell Solicitors and Ingrams Solicitors will become a formidable ally to the miners’ cause. Ingrams Solicitors, based in York and Hull have dealt with 8,500 claims on behalf of miners between 2001 and 2009 and contributed £200,000 from fees to the voluntary scheme to top up miners’ payments to a minimum level. Neil Hudgell Solicitors, based in Hull, specialise in professional negligence claims against solicitors in claims ranging from a few hundred pounds to several million.

The joint brand for a campaign that will start on 9th November is ‘Claim Again’. Paul Stott, partner at Ingrams said, “We are sending out an Urgent Message to Ex Miners which is if you feel that your mining injury claim was rushed through, missing some important points, or you did not receive 100% of the compensation due to you, give us a call today on 0800 999 00 09 or click on our website www.claimagain.com or email us at info@claimagain.com ”.