Motor injury claims fall to lowest level

The number of motor insurance personal injury claims has fallen to its lowest level for almost a decade, according to the Department of Work and Pensions.

The number of claims registered with the DWP’s Compensation Recovery Unit fell to 650,019 in 2017/18 from 780,324 a year earlier. That is the lowest total for any year for which data is available.

The number seeking compensation reached a peak of 828,489 in 2011/2012.

The second reading of the Civil Liability Bill is due to start in the House of Lords today, and reach its committee stage early next month.

The bill includes measures to raise the Ogden personal injury discount rate, raise the small claims court limit from £1,000 to £5,000, denying small claimants legal representation, and introduce a tariff of compensation for minor injuries.

Opponents of the bill say the declining number of claims makes the measures unnecessary.

“This discredits the principles behind the Civil Liability Bill, which the Government claims will reduce premiums by slashing injury compensation paid to people with whiplash injuries. It also targets payments made to people with the most devastating life-long disabilities,” said Brett Dixon, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

“Injury claims are not behind rising premiums. The mischief clearly lies elsewhere,” he added.

The DWP’s Compensation Recovery Unit was set up to ensure that claimants would not be double-compensated for injury through insurance and benefits.