ACCIDENT claim companies are trying to exploit the victims of London’s terrorist bombs, the head of the Law Society said yesterday.

“No win, no fee” companies are encouraging those who were injured or the families of those murdered to sign claim agreements in return for seeking compensation, despite the availability of free legal advice, he said.

Kevin Martin, the president of the solicitors’ professional body, said that the accident claim companies were attempting to cash in on the compensation due to victims or their families. “Accident claim companies are trying to make money out of the bombings by luring people into agreements that will entitle the claims companies to large shares of compensation payments,” he said.

“They are totally unregulated. They try to appear bona fide but the truth can be very different. Our worry is that victims will sign agreements that are not in their best interests.”

The victims of the bombings are entitled to compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund, set up for the victims of the July 7 bombs. Victims can contact a free Law Society helpline for legal advice.

The accident claim company 1st Class Legal set up an internet web page only days after the bombings encouraging claimants to sign up. The website reads: “We are a specialist service that deals with Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) claims on a no win, no fee basis.

“The dependants of anyone who was killed in the incidents can also usually claim compensation. Our claims are completely risk free and you do not have to pay for any expenses as the claim proceeds.”

1st Class Legal denied that it was trying to exploit victims of the bombings. However, John Eastwood, a director of the company, said that it will no longer offer advice to victims of the London bombings after the criticisms by the Law Society.

“We have withdrawn this service to bomb victims, but we do defend the right of our company to offer a service to people who have been hurt in any accident,” Mr Eastwood said. “We are a legitimate company, and we offer a service that is legitimate. A lot of people do not like filling in forms and we help them to do that and only take a fee if they manage to win compensation.”

A spokesman for CICA said that bomb victims will not, in most circumstances, need to pay for legal advice. “In general you won’t need to use any paid help to apply for compensation,” he said. “We aim to make the process as simple as possible.”

The London Bombings Legal Helpline is 0800 7314796. The CICA free helpline is 0800 3583601.

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