Personal injury (PI)
Claims Apprentice Podcast: Claims Inflation – Personal Injury
In this podcast, Team Aspire – from the latest series of Claims Apprentice – looks at the factors behind the rise in personal injury claims costs.
Trade Voice: Mass’s Sue Brown on why the OIC portal has been a resounding failure
Sue Brown, chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society, argues that the criteria by which the success of the Official Injury Claims portal has been judged have continually shifted and takes aim at what she sees as the MoJ’s latest excuse.
‘Clarity’ for PI as Court of Appeal hands down judgment on mixed injuries
The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in two mixed injury cases leapfrogged in November, providing some clarity on how mixed injuries should be handled. However, some are concerned it could lead to further litigation and an adverse impact on…
FCA warns insurers against undervaluing written off cars
The Financial Conduct Authority has seen evidence of insurers offering consumers whose cars have been written off a price lower than the vehicle’s fair market value.
Trade Voice: Apil’s John McQuater on why the law on bereavement damages is out of step with modern society
John McQuater, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, says the case for an overhaul of the law on bereavement damages has only grown stronger in recent years, and it needs to be updated to reflect today's modern society and family…
Unrepresented claimants continue to sit below 10% according to OIC
The fifth tranche of data from Official Injury Claim portal shows that unrepresented claimants still make up less than 10% of its users, while the time taken to settle claims increases yet again.
Mass renews call for early review into OIC tariff
The Motor Accident Solicitors Society has renewed its call for an early review of the tariff of damages for low-value road traffic accidents, as recommended by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.
Concerns grow for unrepresented claimants as trends appear in OIC figures
The fourth set of figures from the Official Injury Claims portal shows that the number of unrepresented claimants still make less than 10% of those using the portal, with the claimant sector concerned about ability of accident victims to get support they…
Mixed injuries working group aims to take a range of test cases to Court of Appeal ‘as quickly as possible’
As first instance judgments are starting to come through, Martin Saunders, Official Injury Claim’s portal head of service says the mixed injuries working group aims to take a range of test cases to Court of Appeal “as quickly as possible”.
Blame laid at the OIC portal for unexpected fall in PI motor claims since pandemic
Personal injury motor claims decreased despite more traffic since the pandemic, according to CRU figures, with blame being directed towards the government portal
Arbitration could shorten the whiplash portal’s 175 day wait for settlements to ‘three to 10 days’
An arbitration service has claimed OIC delays could be shortened from six months to “three to 10 days” if parties are no longer allowed to play games.
Spotlight on periodical payment orders: The benefits of transferring PPO risks to a life insurer
Start-up life insurer AUL Assurance is targeting general insurers, offering them an opportunity to reduce their exposure to periodical payment order risks. What are the benefits of such transfers and why might the recent ASHE inflation figures make this…
Apil calls for DfT to enforce speed restrictions on e-scooters and make helmets compulsory
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers is calling on Department for Transport to enforce speed restrictions on e-scooters and make helmets compulsory for riders ahead of anticipated government consultation on legalising privately-owned e-scooters.
Aviva vindicated in High Court as judge rules 'free and frank' exchanges must be permitted
The High Court has found in favour of Aviva in a defamation case from a medical legal expert, in a ruling “likely to be of benefit not only to road traffic accident insurers but also litigants more generally”.
Intelligence: Managing the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries
With lithium-ion batteries becoming commonplace in everyday life, Post investigates the risks associated with them, and how insurers are incorporate such risks into policy terms.
ACSO calls for official review of OIC as Sir Christopher Bellamy steps into MOJ role
A claimant support organisation has urged Sir Christopher Bellamy to review fixed recoverable costs for civil cases as he replaces Lord Wolfson of Tredegar as parliamentary under secretary of state.
Analysis: One year on, is the whiplash portal working or heading for a crash?
With the Official Injury Claim portal celebrating its first birthday on 31 May, Post investigates how it has fared over the past 12 months.
OIC portal figures don't show true picture of reforms as driver behaviour has changed with Covid
As driver behaviour changed following the Covid pandemic, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions on the impact the whiplash reforms have had on the number of claims coming through the new system, a conference has heard.
MoJ defends the low proportion of unrepresented claimants using OIC portal
Speaking at the Association of British Insurers’ whiplash event, David Parkin, deputy director for civil justice and law policy at the Ministry of Justice, addressed the criticism that Official Injury Claims portal is not meeting its objectives as less…
Insurance-related nuisance calls and texts rose by 40% in 2021
After improving in 2020, insurance-related nuisance calls and messages rose by 40% in 2021, with Information Commissioner's Office receiving 3989 complaints.
Low motor accident claim levels raise concerns that 'injured people are not claiming'
A claimant organisation has raised concerns that the number of registered motor claims in the first quarter of 2022 remained at a pandemic level, despite road traffic mostly returning to normal.
Intelligence: Ireland is cautiously optimistic about its financial future
As Ireland emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic into a post-Brexit world, David Worsfold explains that after addressing past regulatory failures, and now looking to make personal injury reforms, the Irish insurance market is currently looking forward and…
Aviva told to pay £3.2m to artist but dementia claim fails
The High Court has found that Aviva must pay around 10% of the £33.6m originally sought by artist Manuel Mathieu in a personal injury case.
Fears OIC portal is not meeting objectives as unrepresented claimants make up less than 10% of users
Latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show that unrepresented claimants still make up less than 10% of those using the Official Injury Claim portal, as concerns grow that portal is not meeting objectives of being “consumer friendly”.