There is new rules being introduced into the UK regarding fraudulent whiplash claims from the 30th May 2021 onwards. The new online digital portal will now be available to all motorists to make a claim for any road traffic-related personal injury claim that is valued under £5,000 including any whiplash claims. It is so the claimants can settle their own affairs and the claimants wont need to pay extra money for expensive lawyers. It is intended that a majority of road traffic accident claims should be dealt with using the online digital portal in future.
The new rules also include increasing the track limit for personal injury small claims will be processed in the cheaper small claims track, where legal costs are not recoverable. All motorists will also need to show proof and medical evidence to the portal before any settlement can be made. Any whiplash cases without evidence will also be banned in a bid to stop fraudulent or exaggerated claims.
The Ministry Of Justice said: “There were more than 550,000 whiplash claims made in the year 2019-2020 an unacceptably high number.” They also said: “Insurers have promised to pass on the savings from the reforms.” Which could be a total of £1.2bn.
Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland 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, will put an end to this greedy opportunism and ultimately see savings put back into the pockets of the country’s drivers.”
James Dalton, Director, General Insurance Policy, the Association of British Insurers said: “This long-awaited reform is a big win for consumers. The portal and associated reforms will help control the costs associated with whiplash claims, whilst ensuring proportionate compensation is paid to genuinely injured claimants. The ABI has been working with the government over a number of years on much-needed reforms to the UK’s personal injury system, and this portal is a key development to ensure a compensation system that has genuine claimants at its heart, while cracking down on those who look to exploit the system.”
The Official Injury Claim portal is now open and is also operated by the Motor Insurers Bureau.
