BS: Blame culture and compensation ads

Subject: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:48 AM

While reading the Mudcat BS section today, I began to be irritated by the grinning face of Esther Rantzen popping up and down in an ad for the Accident Helpline. The ad gives the impression of being an advice service for those who've had an accident, but if you click on it - which I did out of curiosity - it's the usual commercial firm touting for business.

I find these accident claims firms - "No win, no fee" - distasteful, and the "I've had an injury - anyone has to be blamed except me" culture very sad. I'm sure there are very reasonable and distinct cases where compensation is due to someone because of the mistakes of others, but the battening on to accident/injury victims by law firms is - to me - slightly sick-making.

Hardships are bound to befall many of us from time to time, but there seems to be a huge increase in looking for scapegoats - and money - elsewhere, rather than taking responsibility for one's actions.

In my working days, it seemed to me that a large proportion of Health & Safety and Personnel procedures, rules and strategies were driven by the fear of being sued, rather than any benevolent interest in employees.

Hey ho - rant over - back to the tenor banjo (now there's a health & safety issue...)

Subject: RE: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:52 AM

Nothin' new under the sun, Will. I think that it's just that new and different technology make it all more obvious. After all, how long has the tern "ambulance chaser" been around? Longer than we have, for sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:58 AM

There are several issues in there all run together, it seems to me, but I am not going to do a long thing right now, merely to note that history teaches that there are far too many employers who do not have any benevolent interest in employees, and who if left without the spur of the criminal aspects of Health and Safety law would choose to ignore their common law duty to employees (an implied term of the employment contract) - concentrating solely on "the bottom line".

Subject: RE: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 08:10 AM

That's the problem with anything.. There will always be people who will find a way to game it...

Cheaters cheat... Doesn't much matter whether its sport, business, marriages, liability law suits, driving, check out counters...some folks are gonna cheat!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 08:12 AM

I know exactly what you mean, Richard. Unfortunately, some employees seem to forget that the a major responsibility for their H&S at work lies with themselves, and not solely with the employer.

Subject: RE: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:08 PM

On U. S.-Canadian TV, advs. are placed by some large law firms, looking for people who have contracted lung cancer or other problems from asbestos fibers to join in class action suits. Canada is still an asbestos producer from several mines.
Some other actions, but can't remember their subject at the moment.

Locally, one law firm is often on TV, looking to defend drivers facing incarceration or loss of licenses as the result of drunken driving arrests.
Yes, the modern equivalent of ambulance-chasing.

Subject: RE: BS: Blame culture and compensation ads
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:18 PM

Where is Esther Rantzen?
Who is Esther Rantzen?
Why don't I see Esther Rantzen?
How do I meet Esther Rantzen also?

(oh...now I see...it is in your Mudcat Cookie, and your Flash Cookies, and your browsing history. Naughty Boy.)