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Personal Injury Solicitors

MoJ introduces measures to reduce insurance fraud (9 June 2014)

Date: 09/06/2014
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, MoJ introduces measures to reduce insurance fraud

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is targeting whiplash claimants once more, with the aim of reducing insurance fraud and bogus whiplash claims.

Whiplash is a common injury, which can result from a head-on impact in a road traffic accident, or a rear shunt road traffic accident.

Traumas to the head can also cause whiplash injuries, including blows on the head sustained during sports and watersports.

Whiplash injuries can also occur in other circumstances – for example, when an airplane suddenly loses height or an item from an overhead locker falls onto a passenger.

Whiplash injuries occur when the head and neck flexes backwards and forwards rapidly – or even sideways – stretching muscles and ligaments. Whiplash injuries can cause pain, stiffness and soreness and can affect mobility in the neck, shoulders, back and arms.

Because of the range of symptoms involved in whiplash injuries, diagnosis can be difficult – and some symptoms can cause long-term mobility issues as a result of nerve or muscle damage.

Fraudulent whiplash claims have in the past been blamed for escalating motor insurance premiums, however.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has warned motor insurance companies that the new measures to reduce bogus whiplash claims and insurance fraud should lead to lower insurance premiums. The changes should become law before the General Election next year.

Mr Grayling told BBC News:

“I've got a clear message to insurance companies – I expect to see those reforms converted into lower premiums for motorists.... I'm doing my bit – I expect them to do their bit.
“These measures are designed to drive down on the cost of motor insurance,” he said.
New proposals from the MoJ will also prevent personal injury claims firms from offering inducements such as bonus cash or free personal computers to encourage people to make a claim.

The Association of British Insurers has welcomed the MoJ’s measures to curb insurance fraud. Director general of the association, Otto Thoresen, said:

“We applaud the decision to ban the distasteful advertising, which offers cash or other inducements for personal injury claims,” he said.
"This only serves to reinforce to unscrupulous claimants that there is a compensation culture to exploit."
Courts will also be given the power to refuse compensation to claimants if it is thought they have been dishonest and exaggerated their injuries or symptoms. The changes to the law regarding whiplash injuries will come into force in October this year, after which claimants who make personal injury claims for whiplash injuries will be assessed by an independent medical board.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Whiplash Injuries

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise on how to make a no win no fee claim for whiplash injuries involving:

• Bike Courier Accident Claims
• Children’s Accident Claims
• Cycling Accident Claims
• Holiday Accident Claims
• Horse Riding Injury Claims
• Motorcycle Accident Claims
• Professional Drivers’ Accident Claims
• Train Drivers’ Accident Claims
• Road Traffic Accident Claims
• Road Worker Injury Claims
• Sports Injury Claims.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee personal injury claims – including whiplash injury claims – contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


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