The Government recently announced plans to help injured workers and their families to obtain compensation, which have been welcomed by Thompsons.

The plans involve creating an Employers’ Liability Tracing Office to help people track down their employers’ liability insurance policies and an Employers’ Liability Insurance Bureau (ELIB), which will provide a fund of last resort for those who are unable to trace insurers.

Thompsons, which has been campaigning for an ELIB for years said that the move was very welcome, although long overdue.

As the UK’s most experienced personal injury law firm, Thompsons has campaigned with trade unions, victims groups and families on a wide range of issues to protect the right to compensation for workplace accidents and illness.

Currently anyone who cannot trace the insurer of an employer which has gone out of business is unable to obtain compensation.

Thompsons has always pointed out that it is unfair that people injured by negligent uninsured drivers get full compensation from the Motor Insurance Bureau, while injured workers unable to trace their employer’s insurers are left with nothing. The government will now hold a consultation, which closes on 5 May, to decide how the tracing office could be best managed and funded. It will also look at the type of accident or disease which will be covered by the ELIB and which claims will be eligible under the scheme.

For more information on the consultation, go to: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/elci-compensation-consultation.pdf