Reforms for Personal Injury Compensation Claims

People affected by road traffic accents will soon be able to file ‘fast track’ personal injury compensation claims under new proposals recently outlined by ministers.

Under these proposals, claims of between £1-10,000 will be filed more quickly and allow for much earlier admissions of liability, making for a much speedier settlement process.

Whilst these proposals will inevitably make the claims process for certain individuals much simpler, many have questioned whether or not they will go far enough.

Ministers have been criticised for not making similar provisions for those affected by other accidents such as those in the workplace. Director General of the Association of British insurers (ABI) Stephen Haddrill described the exclusion of workplace-related claims, which take on average three years to settle as “illogical and bizarre.”

Haddrill also commented:
“The goal of reform must be a better deal for claimants. Many will remain stuck in a slow, complex and expensive system, that denies them speedy compensation and care.”
Insurance industry bosses have predicted that the reforms will lead to widespread confusion amongst the general public and that the measures will not go far enough towards helping people to achieve improved access to justice.

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (Apil) welcomed the quicker claims system but President of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, Henry Bermingham expressed his reservations. Bermingham stated that the proposals were a “missed opportunity” and concluded that the personal injury system is “crying out for reform.”
Gina Simpson of personal injury compensation claims company Aegis Law had this to say “Whilst these proposals are far from perfect, they are a step in the right direction and will certainly make things easier for those looking to claim for whiplash and other injuries attained as a result of road traffic accidents.

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