Nine in 10 GPs suspect that they have seen patients who have exaggerated their injuries for the sake of insurance claims, a survey has found.
In addition, four in five doctors believe they have seen patients who have totally made up an injury for the sake of claiming compensation. Patients are most likely to say they have whiplash, with 92 per cent of GPs citing this as the most commonly exaggerated injury.
The survey also found that six in 10 GPs reported a rise in the number of patients they thought were exaggerating injuries for the sake of a claim, over the last two years.
Most doctors cited Britain’s “blame culture” as a reason for the rise.
Almost half (46 per cent) said they were now taking more time to scrutinise such claims, while 39 per cent said they had refused to write or sign at least one medical form for a personal injury claim.
The figures were from a poll of 250 GPs, undertaken on behalf of the insurer LV=.
Martin Milliner, director of technical claims at LV=, said: “Clearly anyone who has a genuine injury as a result of an accident that wasn’t their fault, and loses out or can’t work as a result of it, is entitled to compensation.
“However anyone trying to get money for an injury that doesn’t exist is not only breaking the law but also wasting valuable NHS time and resources.”
An additional survey of 2,000 people found 17 per cent admitted to making a claim as a direct result of seeing advertising from ‘no win, no fee’ personal injury lawyers.
Mr Milliner said for every £1 insurers paid out in compensation, they paid an extra 87p in legal costs.
A spokesman for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) said: “We know our members take this issue extremely seriously and are far from complacent about fraud.
“But we need the insurers and all those who are familiar with fraudulent tactics, to keep us informed about current developments so our members are properly prepared when dealing with their clients.”
Source : Telegraph
