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Insurers go head to head with government over claims fees
Insurers go head to head with government over claims fees
Earlier this year it emerged that many insurance companies were profiting by selling their customers details on to personal injury lawyers following accidents. These referral fees were described as a “racket,” by former cabinet member Jack Straw.
Despite often bemoaning the high number of claims for compensation that are allegedly responsible for increasing premiums, the insurance industry has been accused of perpetuating and exacerbating the issue by continuing to sell customers details on to claims firms.
So far, Axa is the only insurance company to end the practice of passing on its customers details for referral fees. Now its Chief Executive, Paul Evans, has renewed calls for the government to take action over the fees, and other factors which he says are leading to spiralling insurance premiums.
“Whilst we welcome signals that the government is minded to impose a market-wide ban on referral fees, they are a symptom – not the cause – of the increase in personal injury claims,” Mr Evans said.
Radical steps
He went on to say that: “We believe more radical steps are needed... there seems to be no question that UK society is drifting into a compensation culture, encouraged by an industry of claims management firms and personal injury lawyers.”
However personal injury lawyers say that the need for this ‘compensation culture’ is brought about by the high volume of accidents on the UK’s roads, in which people are injured or worse.
Nicolas Jervis, managing director of claims specialists 1stClaims commented: “If a person is injured as a result of an accident which was not their fault, then they have every right to make a claim for compensation. We live in a society that enables us to protect those who have been wronged, and while there may be some room for fine-tuning of the system, the focus should remain on preserving the rights of innocent victims.”
Whiplash claims
Mr Evans also singled out whiplash claims as, “driving the increase of personal injury claims which have caused motor premiums to rise,” arguing that many such claims are fraudulent.
Whiplash is one of the main claim types targeted by claims companies after obtaining insurance customer’s details. This is perhaps because it is one of the most commonly sustained injuries during a crash, even at low-speed. Mr Evans called for a “comprehensive medical evaluation of muscle damage following a typical low impact road traffic accident,” to make it easier to ascertain which whiplash claims are genuine.
Nicolas Jervis said on the matter: “While there are a certain proportion of false claims for whiplash, it is a real condition that can cause genuine distress and suffering in those affected by it. Certainly any advances which make it easier to spot a genuine case from a fraudulent one are to be welcomed, but we should be wary of falling into the trap of ‘guilty until proven innocent.’”
He added, “I hope that when considering its options, the government will keep in mind the needs of accident victims, and not just the will of the insurance industry.”
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