The Government needs to get itself into gear and publish its consultation on tackling the UK’s whiplash epidemic the ABI warns. Earlier this year the Government committed to consult on proposals to increase the small claims track limit for personal injury claims and introduce more independent medical experts to assess whiplash claims. To date, nothing has been issued. For every week of delay in the Government implementing these changes, over 10,000 whiplash claims are made, leading to unnecessarily high premiums for honest motorists.
Despite safer roads, whiplash claims have risen by over a quarter in the last four years. Last year, there were over 550,000 claims for whiplash injuries – enough to fill Wembley Stadium six times over. The £2 billion cost these claims now represents over 20% over the average premium.
Speaking at the Motor Accident Solicitors Society’s annual conference, James Dalton, the ABI’s Head of Motor Insurance, said: “For too many people a car crash automatically means a whiplash claim. Government reforms will tackle the ‘have a go’ compensation culture. But when it comes to whiplash, the Ministry of Justice have had their foot on the brake for too long and it is time to get on with consulting if we are to help genuine whiplash claimants and drive the whiplash cheats from our roads.”
