Legal News

The Insurance Fraud Bureau has said that criminal gangs are targeting new health conditions in order to make fraudulent personal injury claims.

Speaking at the conference of the Association of British Insurers, head of the Insurance Fraud Bureau, Ben Fletcher, said that industrial deafness was one of the conditions which has replaced whiplash claims as a growing source of fraudulent insurance claims.

Insurers called for action to curb the rise in the number of fraudulent whiplash claims being made – most linked to road traffic accidents (RTA).

However, Mr Fletcher said that the insurance industry had not yet decided on a strategy to deal with fraudulent claims, other than those relating to whiplash.

It is though fraudulent insurance claims are one of the main reasons for hikes in motoring insurance in recent years.

The insurance industry provides funding for the Fraud Insurance Bureau and the industry successfully fought for more independent medical panels to assess whiplash claimants.

The Association of British Insurers now fears that industrial deafness could be “the new whiplash” as far as fraudulent insurance claims are concerned.

Whiplash can be hard to diagnose because the term whiplash injury can cover a range of symptoms affecting different part of the spine, neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Symptoms may be short-term or chronic – or even life changing in some cases.

The effects of a whiplash injury can also vary, with symptoms growing worse over time – or gradually affecting another part of the body as a result of nerve damage. Pain, backache, numbness, loss of mobility and headaches can all be symptomatic of whiplash industries.

Industrial deafness can develop as a result of prolonged exposure to industrial noise – or as the result of exposure to an incident of high-decibel noise.

In the case of whiplash injury claims, preventing fraudulent claims focused on how whiplash claims services were marketed, with claims lawyers facing cuts in fees for low-value claims which could be fast-tracked through the RTA Claims Portal.

Claims lawyers were also prohibited from offering cash bonuses upfront or free electronic gadgets to claimants for choosing their firm.

Ben Fletcher said that now headway had been made in fighting fraudulent whiplash claims, “other organised fraudsters are emerging”.

“We need a legislative and regulatory environment conducive to fighting fraud – not hindering it,” he told delegates at the Association of British Insurers conference.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Industrial Disease Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise victims of industrial disease on how to make no win no fee claims for compensation.

Duncan Lewis can advise on making Industrial Disease Claims relating to asbestosis and mesothelioma, silicosis, industrial deafness and a wide range of other conditions caused by exposure to hazardous substances or industrial noise.

Personal injury claimants have three years from the date of diagnosis in which to make a claim – and families who have lost a loved one to industrial diseases may also be able to claim compensation by making Fatal Injury Claims.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Industrial Disease Claims, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.