UK Wide Whiplash Injury Claim Coverage

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Whiplash And Insurance Premiums

Could whiplash claims push up insurance premiums again?

In 2010, the AA recorded the biggest increase in car insurance premiums since the organisation began tracking the market. This rise of around 40% was largely blamed on fraudulent and exaggerated personal injury claims (although if you read on you will find that insurers are actually largely responsible for increases in insurance premiums). A report by the financial services company Deloitte predicts that insurance premiums will soar by a further 30% in 2011.

Fraudulent claims

The bulk of fraudulent personal injury claims made in 2010 were by unscrupulous motorists and criminal gangs exploiting the difficulties in diagnosing whiplash. Whiplash is an injury that commonly results from a rear end impact such as a road traffic accident. During the impact, the kinetic energy of the car behind is transferred to the car in front and those within it. The momentum of the collision will throw a passenger’s head forward, extending the neck and spine beyond their usual range of motion. This whipping action continues in the second phase of the accident, snapping the head backwards and, if the headrest is not properly positioned, continuing the hyperextension of the neck and spine.

The effects of whiplash, although well documented, are hard to diagnose. The overstretching of the neck and spine causes the damage to the muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding them and this can give rise to a variety of symptoms ranging from mild headaches and neck ache to loss of mobility in the arms, tinnitus and a vertigo-like condition. However, because there is no exterior evidence of the injury, medical professionals have to rely on the testimonials of the victims.

Those looking to cash in on the difficulties in diagnosis have found it relatively easy to fake or exaggerate injuries. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of ‘cash for crash’ cases, where criminals will stage accidents, often involving innocent motorists, so that they can make fraudulent whiplash claims.

Who pays the costs of fraud?

According to the AA, the UK has the highest number of whiplash claims in Europe and yet it has the safest roads and the lowest number of recorded accidents per person. The Association of British Insurers estimates that there are around 200 claims for whiplash per day and that the average payout for a claim of this sort is around £2,340. In addition, the cost of legal fees has risen to around £2,100. These figures have left insurers facing a financial shortfall of nearly �£2billion.

In order to recover their monies, the insurance companies say they have no choice but to further hike up the cost of financial protection for motorists. Currently 87p in every pound paid in premiums goes towards covering the cost of legal expenses in whiplash claims. With fuel prices at an all-time high, the innocent motorist is, once again, paying the cost of others’ actions.

However, as has recently been revealed by Jack Straw, the real reason insurance companies costs in whiplash claims is increasing is that they often push their insured to make claims for compensation when they would not otherwise do so because they can then sell on the client's details to solicitors for up to £1,000 per client. Many of these people would not think of making a claim for compensation, but the insurance companies often ask the question three or four times and make their insured claim when they would not otherwise do so. We have heard stories of many of our clients being urged by their insurance companies to make a claim, and then being told that they MUST use their chosen solicitor (otherwise they will not receive their bonus fee). We have called on Jack Straw to ban insurance companies from profiting from their own insured's injuries, which strikes us as a completely immoral practice.

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.

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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?

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Why Choose Us for Your Whiplash/Road Claim?

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All 1stClaims solicitors are monitored by client feedback to ensure a quality service is maintained for your benefit

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