The term “compensation culture” is used to describe
the modern society which tends to seek legal compensation for relatively minor
incidents or cases. While the term is used more often in the U.K. and Ireland,
it can be said that the tendency to file frivolous lawsuits and then having
difficulty to prove one's injury are instances of compensation culture. Though
people have the right to seek compensatory damages via litigation for personal
injury, it's not an excuse for them to misuse and abuse the system.
Compensation, in general, exists to help people
sustain their daily living. If you have a broken arm due to an accident at work,
you may be looking at loss income and expensive medical bills. Hence, to
qualify for compensation, you must be able to prove that the injury you
suffered will have a significant effect on the quality of your life. You'll
most likely receive compensation for an injury which resulted from the
negligence of others, especially if it keeps you from working and greatly
impacts your health.
Unfortunately, many people take advantage of the
current system under many guises: faking injuries, exaggerating trivial
matters, filing absurd claims, etc. It's nearly impossible to change
compensation culture overnight. However, with serious reforms and a slow but
steady social change, a litigious society can eventually become more forgiving
and tolerant.
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