Legal Experts Call For A Settlement Scheme To Be Negotiated

Specialist lawyers contacted for help by concerned drivers regarding the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal have described confirmation that 1.2 million vehicles in the UK are affected as “shocking news”.

VW has confirmed the number of diesel cars in the UK that it believes are affected and is expected to provide further information to retailers in the coming days, with owners to be contacted in due course.

The specific brands and numbers involved are:

• Volkswagen cars: 508,276
• Audi: 393,450
• Seat: 76,773
• Skoda: 131,569
• VW commercial vehicles: 79,838

The concerns about the vehicles related to software being used in some which made the cars operate differently when being tested for emission levels. The issue has already led to the resignation of former chief executive Martin Winterkorn and it is thought 11 million vehicles are affected globally.

Expert Opinion

“The confirmation that over one million vehicles in the UK are affected by the scandal is shocking news.

“The scale of these problems is clearly immense and a huge number of VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda owners across the UK will be concerned about what will happen next for them. Many of them are already contacting us to seek advice and guidance about their possible legal rights and remedies.

“The planned recall and refit is an important step forward towards addressing the issues which have raised so much concern, but it remains to be seen whether this will in any way undo the significant damage which has been done to consumer confidence.

“Even post-recall, owners of affected models are likely to face issues including the reduced re-sale value of their vehicles, while the significant fall in the company’s share price may also give grounds for those affected to seek legal redress. It is inevitable that there will be a deluge of legal claims and VW need to act quickly and start negotiations with the lawyers representing those who have purchased the affected vehicles with a view to agreeing the terms of a settlement scheme. Experience shows that an agreed scheme is the best way of providing full and fair compensation to a large number of people in a swift and efficient manner.

“While the planned recall is a step forward, it is unlikely to make the company’s problems disappear. We would urge anyone with concerns regarding issues with VW or other affected vehicles to seek expert legal advice to understand their rights and their options.” Kevin Timms - Solicitor

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