UK Wide Whiplash Injury Claim Coverage

We have expert Whiplash Injury Claim Solicitors across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland waiting to help you now.

100% Compensation

You keep all of your compensation and pay nothing if you win or lose.

UK Whiplash Injury Claim Specialists

We have specialist Whiplash Injury Claim Solicitors ready and waiting to help you across the UK.

Not Sure What To Do?

Simply call us free or complete the quick enquiry on the right and let us explain your legal rights and your options (at no cost to you and no obligation).

Could In-Car Telematics Reduce The Number Of Whiplash Claims?

An increase in the number of personal injury whiplash claims has raised the cost of motor insurance by almost 40%, according to research by the AA. Ian Faulkner, Managing Director of project resourcing company Metaskils, has suggested that the advent of new technology should be embraced by insurers to help the fight against fraud.

Although whiplash is one of the most commonly sustained injuries from road traffic accidents, the condition is still regarded as something of an enigma in the medical world. Whiplash is sustained usually as the result of a rear impact collision. The momentum of the impact send the head first forward and then back, extending the neck, spine and surrounding soft tissues beyond their usual range of motion. This can result in the muscles, tendons and ligaments being stretched, strained and torn, giving rise to a variety of symptoms. These symptoms can range in severity from mild neck pain and headaches to blurred vision, tinnitus and loss of mobility in the arms and upper body.

Diagnosis difficulties

What makes whiplash so difficult to diagnose is that there are often no outward signs of injury - all the damage is sustained inside the body. As a result, medical professionals have little to rely on other than the testimonial of the victim. Consequently, whiplash is one of the most commonly faked or exaggerated injuries in the insurance world. However, research is being conducted into the conditions that cause whiplash; the Wilhelm University in Munster, Germany, has recently conducted a series of experiment which suggest that the minimum speed required to sustain whiplash is around 6.2mph. A judge in Bolton has recently thrown a whiplash claim out of court when it was revealed that the impact occurred at less than 2mph.

Black box technology

Ian Faulkner is suggesting that telematics could be an aid to discerning genuine claims from false ones. Telematic technology is much the same as used in black box flight recorders on aeroplanes. Faulkner says that “The use of in-car telematics devices is an obvious solution, whereby insurers can make judgements based on real data on the circumstances surrounding a claim such as speed, location, time of accident and whether there was sufficient impact to have caused whiplash or other injury.”

Faulkner sees a further benefit to the motorist. The Equality Act of 2010 means that it is illegal to discriminate against people based on their age or sex. In insurance terms, this means that soon insurers will no longer be able to discern between younger and more experienced drivers or the habits that differentiate men and women. Consequently, as a ‘what’s sauce for the goose’ approach is implemented, drivers are likely to see their premiums increase even further.

Ian argues that telematic technology will allow each case to be assessed on its individual merits and any data that has been collected regarding the driver’s habits and history. He suggests that embracing telematic technologies to price risk based on the individual temperament and behaviour of each of its policyholders “seems a ready-made solution and one that cannot be ignored.” The result could be black box technology fitted to next generation cars, cheaper car insurance for careful drivers and a clarification of the individual circumstances in whiplash claims. That could only be of benefit to careful drivers and genuine victims, whilst making it much harder for the fraudsters to continue to cash in on what has become a notoriously ‘easy’ claim to make.

You Need To Know More Vital Information About Whiplash?

For more vital information that you really should know please download our free Essential Guide To Whiplash. It will tell you:

What "No Win No Fee" really means and how to ensure you do not get caught out
Whether a Claims Company or a Solicitor is the right choice for you
What does it mean if you have Legal Expense Insurance (and do you have to use the solicitor that they tell you too if you do not want to)?
How to obtain private treatment for your injuries at no cost to you
How to quickly obtain a replacement car or motorcycle if you need to
Why accepting an offer directly from the other driver's insurance company could cost you thousands of pounds and lead to longterm injury problems

There is no cost so please complete your details below now and we will immediately send you the guide.

Share This Article With:

What If I Could Not Avoid The Accident?

Read our guide explaining what to do following an accident "Road Accident and Injury Claim Guide"

Have You Suffered A Whiplash Injury?

If you would like 1stClaims’ expert Whiplash Solicitors on your side please call us free on 0800 2888 693 or complete our Free Claim Enquiry form now and we will be in touch with you very soon.

Remember, it costs nothing to ask and you receive 100% of your compensation.

We are here to help you from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday,
8.30am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sundays.

Why Choose Us for Your Whiplash/Road Claim?

You keep 100% of your compensation
You pay nothing whether you win or lose your claim
Your solicitor is chosen by one of our directors who was a personal injury solicitor for 14 years. This ensures you are put in touch with the best solicitors to ensure you receive a 1stClass service from 1stClaims!
All 1stClaims solicitors are monitored by client feedback to ensure a quality service is maintained for your benefit

Questions?

What clients are saying about 1stClaims service today

“The 1stclaims solicitor was extremely helpful - she guided me in the right direction with the claim and I would definitely recommend 1stclaims. The solicitor was brilliant and thought of things to claim for that I had not even considered.” - Mrs D, Essex