Three-quarters of consumers in the UK are at ease with the "compensation culture", a new survey suggests.

Nearly three in four people questioned said they would consider pursuing a personal injury compensation claim if they felt it to be someone else's fault.

Individuals are keen to pursue claims against employers but less certain about taking action against the medical profession, according to the survey by Mori.

And despite concerns that a litigious culture to rival the US is rapidly developing in the UK, 78% of people feel claims are socially and morally acceptable.

Costly

In the event that a child suffered a personal injury at school 57% of those surveyed would consider seeking compensation, with only 15% saying they would never sue a school.

Over 60% thought pursuing a claim would probably be more costly than they could afford, but 52% said they would engage a lawyer to do so.

The poll, which was conducted for a personal injury claim company, involved interviews with more than 2,000 adults.

The survey's other findings were:

68% of respondents knew "not very much" or "nothing at all" about how to pursue a compensation claim.

74% said that if they suffered a personal injury at work they felt to be their employer's fault they would be prepared to take their employer to court.

48% of those who answered the survey said they would feel concerned at the prospect of taking their doctor or hospital to court over medical negligence.

On average people thought they would have to give 30% of any winning compensation claim to lawyers or the claims company.

Women and older people are the most reluctant to pursue medical negligence cases.