’Many are not seeking out the redress available to them,’ says executive director

People are “still getting injured in regrettably large numbers” on UK roads and “many are not seeking out the redress available to them”, according to Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) executive director Matthew Maxwell Scott.

Scott issued the warning yesterday (2 August 2023) after the latest Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed a drop claims numbers despite thousands of people still being killed or injured on the roads every year.

The CRU works with insurance companies, solicitors and DWP customers to recover the likes of social security benefits paid as a result of an accident, injury or disease.

NHS charges can also be recovered.

The data showed that motor claims had continued to decline – Scott highlighted that there had been a 43% fall from 654,000 in 2019 to 371,000 in 2022.

This was despite Transport for London reporting in May 2023 that there were 23,903 reported collisions in London last year alone – resulting in 101 people being killed, 3,873 being seriously injured and 23,287 being slightly injured.

Across Great Britain in 2022, the Department for Transport stated that those killed or serious injured fell by 3% to 29,795, while casualties of all severities dropped by 11% to 136,002.

Data mismatch

However, “the falls of 3% in fatalities and severe injuries and 11% in all injury types since 2019 are small compared to the 43% fall in motor claims numbers”, Scott said.

ACSO stated that the data did “not show the cause” of the drop in motor claims numbers, however, the firm believes that the continued decline is a result of both “changing behaviours” and the UK government reforms such as the 2018 Civil Liability Act.

“The conclusion is that while people are still getting injured in regrettably large numbers on our roads, many are not seeking out the redress available to them – including the rehabilitation they might need,” said Scott.

“In a period of rapidly increasing motor insurance premiums, it is difficult to see how any of this is a win for consumers, especially injured ones.”

ACSO obtained the data by submitting a Freedom of Information request.

Volume of Personal Injury Claims Registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU)

Liability Type

Clinical Negligence

Employer

Motor

Other

Public

Not Known

Total

01 Jan 18- 30 Jun 18

8,978

42,151

326,699

5,036

47,950

1,209

432,023

01 Jul 18- 30 Sep 18

4,483

22,375

159,417

1,804

21,290

616

209,985

01 Oct 18 - 31 Dec 18

3,944

23,517

181,261

1,848

23,247

737

234,554

Total 2018

17,405

88,043

667,377

8,688

92,487

2,562

876,562

01 Jan 19- 31 Mar 19

4,207

22,001

156,791

1,868

21,288

597

206,752

01 Apr 19- 30 Jun 19

3,494

25,342

146,844

1,610

16,244

328

193,862

01 Jul 19- 30 Sep 19

3,908

23,491

169,217

1,995

20,101

430

219,142

01 Oct 19 - 31 Dec 19

4,324

16,162

181,131

1,927

19,622

504

223,670

Total 2019

15,933

86,996

653,983

7,400

77,255

1,859

843,426

01 Jan 20 - 31 Mar 20

4,119

14,032

155,860

1,554

16,620

393

192,578

01 Apr 20 - 30 Jun 20

2,217

10,531

94,973

1,076

11,778

351

120,926

01 Jul 20 - 30 Sep 20

2,503

10,774

104,782

1,124

12,358

298

131,839

01 Oct 20 - 31 Dec 20

3,827

12,734

139,758

1,413

14,606

398

172,736

Total 2020

12,666

48,071

495,373

5,167

55,362

1,440

618,079

01 Jan 21 - 31 Mar 21

5,938

11,648

107,463

964

12,544

301

138,858

01 Apr 21 - 30 Jun 21

3,938

9,866

101,679

1,180

10,834

206

127,703

01 Jul 21 - 30 Sep 21

3,805

11,222

90,135

1,129

14,064

249

120,604

01 Oct 21 - 31 Dec 21

3,744

11,748

98,774

1,196

15,084

109

130,655

Total 2021

17,425

44,484

398,051

4,469

52,526

865

517,820

01 Jan 22 - 31 Mar 22

4,062

10,933

97,099

1,093

12,742

115

126,044

01 Apr 22 - 30 Jun 22

3,730

11,594

93,113

1,031

12,785

143

122,396

01 Jul 18- 30 Sep 22

3,593

11,168

96,176

1,221

14,140

68

126,366

01 Oct 22 - 31 Dec 22

3,311

9,651

84,257

922

11,943

79

110,163

Total 2022

14,696

43,346

370,645

4,267

51,610

405

484,969

01 Jan 23 - 31 Mar 23

3,809

11,315

93,989

1,569

14,535

188

125,405

01 Apr 23 - 30 Jun 23

3,406

10,621

89,361

1,578

13,683

176

118,825

01 Jul 23- 30 Sep 23

             

01 Oct 23 - 31 Dec 23

             

Total 2023