Personal injury (PI)
Minster Law cuts costs and warns others must do the same to survive reforms
Personal injury law firms face a “bleak future” unless they bear down on their fixed costs ahead of reforms set to come into force next year, Minster Law CEO Shirley Woolham has warned.
This month in Post: Thomas Cook-up
In a week that was dominated by personal injury fracas, the revelation that Thomas Cook self-insured against all but the “very largest” PI claims may well take the cake for biggest botch up.
Thomas Cook personal injury fund unlikely to provide full compensation, lawyers warn
A government scheme due to be set up to pay the personal injury claims of Thomas Cook customers is unlikely to be sufficient to provide claimants with full compensation and may be open to abuse if appropriate safeguards aren’t put in place, lawyers have…
Aviva pushes for tighter solicitor regulation as it claims CMCs are making a mockery of the system
Solicitors must declare the source of their claims leads, Aviva has challenged, as research shows a tiny fraction of nuisance calls have the legally-required customer consent.
Thomas Cook only took out insurance cover for ‘very largest’ personal injury claims
The government has pledged to set up a statutory compensation scheme for Thomas Cook customers, after it emerged the travel company only took out cover for the “very largest” personal injury claims.
MoJ defends position on access to justice for children amid whiplash criticism
Exclusive: The Ministry of Justice has defended itself over a "loophole" in whiplash legislation that lawyers and trade bodies argue could leave the majority of children injured in road traffic accidents without access to compensation or representation.
Aviva's Andrew Morrish on claims transparency and strengthening trust
Although some reports suggest the number of nuisance calls is falling, Aviva's consumer research found that 70% of Brits said they had received a nuisance call or text in the past seven days, with 36% of those who received a cold call or text saying they…
Civil Liability Act flaw leaves children 'stranded in a civil justice no man’s land'
Exclusive: A majority of children injured in road traffic accidents could lose access to compensation due to a flaw in the Civil Liability Act, a consumer support body has warned.
Top 100 UK Insurers 2019: AM Best Commentary - Insurers well placed to withstand strong headwinds
The 100 largest UK-regulated insurers, ranked by non-life gross premium written, reported a combined underwriting profit in 2018, compared to a loss in 2017. Catherine Thomas, senior director of analytics in London at AM Best, explains how they achieved…
Remedying Risks: Slips and trips - better safe than defensible
With slips and trips among the most frequent insurance claims, temptation is high for some brokers to focus on claims defensibility training to improve after-the-event performance. As part of Post's new Risk Management Hub, Douglas Barnett, director of…
Government extends Medco for small RTA claims
The industry has welcomed the government’s response to a consultation into the future provision of medical reports.
Editor's comment: Is it safe to cross the personal injury line?
Historians argue over the origin of the word deadline but several online etymology dictionaries claim the term might have been influenced by use of the word in 1864 to mean the “do-not-cross line” in Civil War prisons in the US.
Interview: Huw Evans, ABI director general
The industry faces heavy scrutiny from regulators and the government over pricing practices and personal injury reform, all while reeling from the prospect of a looming Brexit. Huw Evans, Association of British Insurers director general, spoke to Jen…
Analysis: Should the FCA impose fee caps on CMCs?
The Financial Conduct Authority is working to limit charges for claims management companies’ services, but will new regulation actually be a double-edged sword for consumers?
Senior reporter's comment: Talking ‘bout your reputation
We talk a lot about reputation. Earlier this year, Post held its inaugural reputation event, which was attended by key industry stakeholders.
ABI mulls legal action against government over discount rate
Exclusive: The Association of British Insurers is considering legal action against the government, after the Ogden discount rate was set at -0.25%.
Analysis: Discount rate decision casts a shadow over personal injury settlements
The personal injury discount rate will be set at minus 0.25% from 5 August providing certainty for insurers and claimants alike, but uncertainty created by the Ministry of Justice review behind the new rate could have left claimants – as well as insurers…
BLM wins fundamental dishonesty case against opportunistic fraudster
BLM has won a fundamental dishonesty case against a fraudster who claimed for whiplash from an accident where she was not in the vehicle.
Blog: The MIB's litigant in person portal is only fit for sunny days
The Motor Insurer's Bureau might have outlined how it expects the proposed litigant in person portal to work. But Marcus Taylor, director of claims at Minster Law, argues that while this might be fine for 'sunny day' scenarios, there was much detail…
Former claims management company boss fined over £1.4m data scam
A former claims management company boss has been found guilty of illegally obtaining people’s personal data and selling it to solicitors.
EQL launches digital physiotherapist tool
Start-up EQL has launched a 'digital physiotherapist' tool it hopes will fast-track patient care.
Fee caps for CMCs could lead to 'clear consumer detriment'
The Association of Consumer Support Organisations has urged the Financial Conduct Authority to consider how the market adapts to regulatory change before considering fee caps on claims management companies.
First Central's Andy James on trusting in insurance
Only 15% of customers will claim on their motor policies this year so how can insurers increase trust in the sector and improve its reputation with such a small touch point with customers asks Andy James, chief commercial officer at First Central…
Four claimants found fundamentally dishonest in an 'unusual' casualty case
Four claimants were found to be fundamentally dishonest and ordered to pay back costs of £22,000 following an investigation into their casualty liability claim by Allianz and DAC Beachcroft.