On Monday 31st May, new rules came into force regarding whiplash claims which will bid to reduce the substantially high number of claims made each year.
In 2019/20 there were more than 550,000 whiplash claims made in the UK.
The regulations were due to come into force last year but were delayed as the insurance industry and wider economy dealt with the impact of COVID-19.
Whiplash claims are estimated to cost the UK insurance industry £2 billion a year and bring additional costs to motorists’ annual insurance premiums.
Bogus whiplash claims are one of the most common types of fraud because medical professionals are typically unable to confirm or disprove the injury as it does not show up on an X-ray.
The new rules aim to deter sham claims, or at least to make them less lucrative for the most determined fraudsters.
The reforms will raise the limit for road traffic compensation claims in small claims court from £1,000 to £5,000. Cases worth less than £1,000 will be routed through a new online portal.
There will also be a set limit on the amount claimants can receive for pain, suffering and loss due to whiplash injuries sustained in road accidents.
For any injuries lasting less than two years, claimants can receive between £235 and £3,910, lower than the £5,000 typically received in compensation previously.
A ban on making or accepting offers to settle whiplash claims without a medical report has also been introduced.
The Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP said: “For too long the system for making whiplash claims has been open to abuse by individuals looking for an easy payday, with ordinary motorists paying the price.
“Our changes, which come into force today, will put an end to this greedy opportunism and ultimately see savings put back into the pockets of the country’s drivers.”
You can rely on Knightsbridge Solicitors to guide you through your personal injury claim. Make a change for the better by contacting a member of our team of personal injury specialists.
Call us today on 0115 824 1700 to find out how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.