Deliver Your News to the World

Freeclaim Solicitors dispute the ‘whiplash epidemic’ in the UK

With the Government proposing further reforms regarding whiplash claims Freeclaim Solicitors look at if they really are as widespread as they appear to be at first glance.


United Kingdom – WEBWIRE

Whilst everyone concerned wants to exclude fraudulent claims, people who have been genuinely hurt in a road traffic accident should not be discouraged to claim compensation.

With the Government proposing further reforms regarding whiplash claims, Freeclaim Solicitors have disputed whether they really are as widespread as they appear to be at first glance and rather that there is increasing propaganda about there being a claim epidemic in the UK.
 
Although figures released by The Associate of British Insurers (ABI) suggest that there is a problem in the UK (their reports indicate that 78% of people claim compensation for whiplash after a road traffic accident - twice the average amount across Europe), Government figures show that whiplash claims are declining and the actual number of whiplash claims has fallen by nearly 24,000 in the last 12 months.
 
In addition, APIL, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, commissioned an independent survey of more than 4,000 people from June to August 2012. This survey showed a very different picture to what the figures above have portrayed.

  • Only 1 in 100 people suffered whiplash last year.
  • Almost 40% of people who have suffered a whiplash injury have never made a personal injury claim for it.
  • Whiplash does not always recover promptly with 1 in 5 people with whiplash having symptoms for over 1 year.


The proposed Government reforms aim to decrease the number of whiplash claims in the UK and to eliminate fraudulent claims for whiplash by creating an independent medical panel to assess people claiming to have whiplash, and increasing the small claims limit so more people would have to represent themselves in whiplash claims, rather than using an independent solicitor.
 
Whilst everyone concerned wants to exclude fraudulent claims, people who have been genuinely hurt in a road traffic accident should not be discouraged to claim compensation. The Government needs to ensure that any new reforms will not isolate accident victims who have suffered whiplash injuries from making a genuine claim.
 
Freeclaim Solicitors have over 25 years’ experience in whiplash and road accident claims. We are members of MASS (the Motor Accident Solicitors Society) and APIL (the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers). For help claiming compensation for whiplash injuries after a road traffic accident,  enquiry online at http://www.freeclaim.co.uk/ or call our 24 hour helpline on 0800 612 7340.


( Press Release Image: https://photos.webwire.com/prmedia/34286/184783/184783-1.jpg )


WebWireID184783




 
 Whiplash Claims
 Insurance


This news content may be integrated into any legitimate news gathering and publishing effort. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.