Scottish Government, Employers and Care Homes Could Face £1B COVID-19 Compensation Claims

Scotland residents who caught COVID-19 or lost a loved one to the virus may be eligible for compensation that could cost the government, employers and care homes more than £1 billion, the Daily Record reports.

Thompsons Solicitors attorney Patrick McGuire told the Daily Record he is currently working to file claims on behalf of more than 100 clients who lost family members to coronavirus in care homes. 

McGuire said that number was only the tip of the iceberg, and that he expects there are tens of thousands of potential claims that could soon go ahead. He said it was not only care homes that could be liable, but places people were working where they contracted the virus due to insufficient health and safety procedures.

“There are tens of thousands of people out there who have contracted this disease in circumstances where they should not have done, and that could have been down to negligence,” he told the Daily Record.

“It is a guess, but an educated one, that claims could run to over £1 billion.”

McGuire said the pandemic was being painted as an unavoidable hazard, when there was in fact more that could have been done by employers, the government and care homes to stop the spread of the virus. 

There have been 10,055 deaths registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the Daily Record reported. A third of those deaths were in care homes, but the number may be higher as some people could have contracted the virus in a care home, and then died in a hospital.

679 working people aged between 20 and 64 have died, according to the Daily Record, including people working as taxi and bus drivers, food and drink processing staff and maintenance, repair workers, those working in construction, hospitality, supermarkets, cleaning and security, and skilled trades such as carpenters, plumbers, joiners and electricians.

In the past, Thompson Solicitors has represented thousands of shipbuilders who got lung diseases from working with asbestos, as well as victims of PiP breast implants, Depuy hip replacements, and cyclists injured by Edinburgh’s tram works, the Daily Record reported.

McGuire said families suing on behalf of a loved one who died in a care home could be eligible for compensation of tens of thousands of pounds.

Workers who caught the virus due to employer negligence could see even higher damages, Thompson said, as there will be a higher wage loss and financial support element.

Meanwhile, the pandemic is leading to a sweep of lawsuits across the region. 

In Ireland, hundreds of pub owners are joining the fight against insurance companies who aren’t paying out COVID-19 related claims. And in the United Kingdom, families staying in quarantine hotels are taking legal action, say they are being subjected to unsanitary conditions.

What do you think about the potential compensation for those affected by coronavirus death or illness in Scotland? Let us know in the comments!

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