Personal injury claims paid to victims of the Ufton Nervet rail crash are unlikely to push up motor premiums, according to Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) chief executive Ashton West
Seven people were killed and several injured when the First Great Western train hit a car on a level crossing in November. As the car was uninsured, the MIB has to pay personal injury claims. The MIB is funded by a levy on insurers and early reports suggested the pay-out would push up premiums, but West said it was "unlikely".
He also said the claims were "not going to significantly impact on next year's levy". In 2004, the insurance industry paid a £275m levy to finance the MIB.
The MIB has so far received 18 personal injury claims, but is expecting up to 170.
West said that with processing of some of the larger claims likely to take up to 12 months estimating the final claims cost of was difficult.
