Civil Liabilities Act
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…
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.
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.
Adapting alternative dispute resolution could save insurers £30m in 2022
The case for adapting alternative dispute resolution urgently needs to be revisited according to Stewart McCulloch, managing director at Claimspace, who believes this could save the industry 'tens of millions' in court cost as well as release the…
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.
Top 100 UK Insurers 2021
Covid-19 had the biggest impact on insurers in 2020. Commercial lines insurers suffered while personal lines insurers broadly benefited according to William Keen-Tomlinson, senior financial analyst in London for AM Best.
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.
Minster Law strikes deal for Irwin Mitchell's fast-track PI business
Minster Law has reached an agreement to take over Irwin Mitchell’s fast-track personal injury business with intentions to “lead consolidation in the market”.
Blog: Tinnitus – the next whiplash?
Weightmans associate Richard Burrows zones in on tinnitus claims.
Blog: Teething problems with the Official Injury Claim portal
Caroline Johnson, technical claims director at LV General Insurance, highlights 'teething problems' with whiplash reforms.
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.
Analysis: The broker problem with online claims adverts
Research by Post has revealed that brokers as well as insurers are being targeted by claims management companies seeking to take over motor claims via misleading advert urls online, particularly on mobile devices
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.
Government will hold insurers' 'feet to the fire' on whiplash savings: MoJ's Chalk
Whiplash rules have edged closer to their 31 May commencement, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk said the government and regulator will hold insurers' "feet to the fire" on consumer savings if necessary.
Small claims track limit changes as whiplash rules get Lords committee green light
Parliamentary under-secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Lord Wolfson has said it is “better late than never” as whiplash regulations passed through the House of Lords with changes to small claims track limit plans.
Motor insurance: Falling claims volumes reignite pricing debate
Claims volumes fell significantly in 2020 as premiums crept down slightly, insurer figures show, leading to intensified campaigner calls for current and future savings to be passed on to motorists.