Mark Solon discusses the current & predicted trends for experts in 2016
The government’s spotlight on expert witnesses has been undimmed over the last year in its continued crackdown on the perceived compensation culture and with its drive to bring down the costs of litigation, particularly in the personal injury field, and especially for cases at the lower end of the spectrum, like whiplash.
Yet despite fee cuts, moves to limit the number of experts giving evidence in cases and the controversial reforms for the instruction of experts in soft tissue cases, the results of the 2015 Bond Solon Expert Witness Survey suggest that it has general been business as usual for most experts, whose work has been undiminished and whose fees have remained static or in some cases increased.
The survey that followed the annual Bond Solon expert witness conference was completed by almost 200 experts across a wide range of specialties.
- Nearly half (47% ) of the 191 respondents reported an increase in the number of instructions received, going against the grain of the government’s intention.
- Of the rest, 75 (39%)
