Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
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…
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”.
MoJ publishes simplified claims portal user guide after previous guidance branded ‘off-putting’
The Ministry of Justice has published a five-step guide to using the Official Injury Claim portal after the previous 64-page long guidance was branded as “off-putting” and “complex” by critics.
Podcast: What next for the OIC portal?
In the second of a two-part podcast series Insurance Post reflects on the initial Official Injury Claim data covering the period from 31 May to 31 August.
Podcast: Reflections on the initial OIC portal data
In the first of a two-part podcast series Insurance Post reflects on the initial Official Injury Claim data covering the first three-month period.
Concerns flagged as nine in 10 OIC portal claimants still represented
The proportion of unrepresented claimants using the Official Injury Claim portal remained below one in ten for its second quarter of operation.
MOJ to 'reflect' on visibility of OIC portal
A Ministry of Justice representative has said it will 'reflect' on communication around the Official Injury Claim portal.
OIC portal data raises 'questions' on exceptional circumstances and access to justice
Official Injury Claim data has raised questions among insurers and claimant representatives, with one expert warning trends "strongly" imply teething problems warnings hold true.
Less than 10% of whiplash portal claimants unrepresented
Ministry of Justice data shows that nine in ten claimants using the Official Injury Claim whiplash portal have done so using a lawyer or other representation.
Supreme Court QOCS conclusion a 'body blow' for PI defendants
A Supreme Court decision on Qualified One-way Costs Shifting provisions in the Civil Procedure Rules may 'at first blush look counterintuitive and unfair’, judges have admitted.
Analysis: The claims sector in a post-reform world
The launch of the whiplash portal has made it more difficult for firms to make money handling small claims, leading to firms reassessing their models. Post investigates what the sector will look like in a post reform world.
Analysis: Trust and the whiplash portal
A survey commissioned by Post found that people are not confident in the whiplash portal, with a number of claimants turning to claims management companies and solicitors for help in completing the claim.
Vast majority of public unaware of whiplash portal
Exclusive: Most of the general public are unaware of the new Official Injury Claim whiplash portal, a survey commissioned by Post has shown.
Trade Voice: Mass chair Paul Nicholls on why an ineffective Official Injury Claim portal is good for no-one
Paul Nicholls, chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society and senior partner at Nicholls Brimble Bhol, looks at the teething pains around the new Official Injury Claim portal and what needs to be done to ensure justice and fair compensation for…
Blog: Not everyone wants their day in court - why the whiplash reforms can benefit from ADR
The Official Injury Claim portal was launched to the public two months ago, but Tim Wallis, chair of Trust Arbitration, suggests the introduction of alternative dispute resolution might be necessary for claimants, insurers, and law firms to realise the…
Insurers wary of 'perverse' CMC behaviour following whiplash reforms
Insurers are concerned that whiplash reforms may result in claims management company “displacement”.
Cross-sector working group seeks clarity on mixed injury whiplash portal claims
A cross-sector working group has been set up with mixed injury whiplash test cases set to make their way through the courts.
'No doubt' whiplash portal will need tweaking after launch: ABI’s James Dalton
Association of British Insurers director of general insurance policy James Dalton told Post there is “no doubt” the whiplash portal will need fine-tuning, but he is optimistic about the launch.
Changes to small claims track limit branded 'token gesture'
The £500 increase to the small claims track limit for non road traffic accident-related claims has been branded a "token gesture" by an insurer claims boss, who flagged concerns that it may not stop claims management companies from bringing speculative…
Whiplash portal guide for unrepresented claimants branded 'off-putting'
Critics have hit out at the "off-putting" and "complex" nature of the recently released litigants in person guide to making a claim through the incoming whiplash portal.
Blog: Legal expenses insurance in a post-reform world
Handl Group chief commercial officer Chris Chatterton considers the effect of whiplash reforms on legal expenses insurance.