Research could lead to fairer pay-outs for accident victims

A decision made by the Court of Appeal based on research at Cardiff University could lead to fairer compensation to reflect the true cost of accidents. Three judges from the Court of Appeal upheld a previous ruling by the High Court that evidence by Dr Victoria Wass of Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, was relevant to the assessment of damages for future losses and expenses and that courts should be allowed to hear such evidence. Dr Wass is a labour economist and her evidence questions the use of the Retail Price Index to increase future earning-based losses by demonstrating that historically earnings have increased faster than prices.