Motorists must prove whiplash to prevent false claims, say MPs

[super jumbe]

Motorists should face tougher medical tests to prove whiplash injuries in order to reduce fraudulent claims, MPs have urged.

Diagnoses of such injuries are ?subjective? and can be exploited by no win, no fee lawyers or in ?cash for crash? frauds, according to the House of Commons transport select committee.
The increase in claims for whiplash is the main cause of the rise in motor insurance premiums, the committee found.

The MPs also called on the insurance industry to abandon ?sharp practices? that push up premiums when dealing with car accident claims, such as passing drivers? details on to other parties.

They said the Government should establish a cross-departmental ministerial committee to look at reducing the cost of motor insurance.

Louise Ellman, the committee?s chairman, said whiplash claims were costly for insurers to challenge because they involved a type of injury ?where diagnosis is often subjective?.





When I reported accident that car has brocken my wing mirror the insurance company asked me have you been injured?

[Canker_Canison]

They said the Government should establish a cross-departmental ministerial committee to look at reducing the cost of motor insurance.

Reducing the cost of motor insurance? Or, keep themselves in a bullsh!t job while wasting our money?

Is it so hard for these muppets to work this out? If the car hit only needs the paint touching up or a new bumper....then a whiplash claim is fraudulent.
If the car is written off & the occupants lucky to ecsape with minor injuries... Possibly a valid claim.

Base the strength of the claim on the damage to the car. Many years ago I was a passenger in a car that was rear ended by a car doing 40mph while we were stationary. Back end was totally ~~~~ed, rear wheels smashed out of alignment & ripped apart by the bodywork. The back of the seat I was in ended up horizontal & twisted. The car was written off.
Yes, I suffered from whiplash. But it only lasted a couple of weeks & I still managed to go to work & never suffered any long term damage.
I never put a claim in, didn't see the point as my injury was so minor. Yet I've seen cars touch at stupidly low speeds that didn't even knock the mud off the bumper. But the passenger in the leading car jumped out of the car screaming about the pain in their neck. Don't know if connon sense won the day with that one, but linking damage to vehicles to possible injuries incurred would stop all the bullsh!t claims.

[GastonJ]

and do you really think that the insurance companies will drop the cost of premiums, or will that fit nicely into profits for their shareholders? Not that I believe people should claim unnecessarily but I'm cynical about such claims that premiums will be reduced and we'll all be better off as a result.

Oh yeah and you prove something you can't see, how?

[johnboy1974]

Dont see how they can disprove it if you know what you're doing. A bit like going to the doctors looking for a line for a bad back methinks.

[spondulick]

just need to google symptoms,can be hours after accident when they appear same as bad back virtually impossible to disprove as long as claimant does not over do it.

[GastonJ]

Another way for insurance companies to pay out less and make more profits, propaganda seems to be working though and being friendly with MP's doesn't seem to be doing them any harm either.

[Snowy79]

I've had calls from companies offering to get me compensation for injuries when a van ran into the rear of my car. It must have been some impact as I was across the road talking to a mate when it happened.

[young]

its a ~~~~ing joke as it is i pay ?280 a month atm for a 2.0l galaxy works out at just over 3 grand a year. atleast dick turpin wore a mask robbing bassads

[popi110]

When I reported an accident to my insurers I got calls of lots of no win no fee firms the only people I told were my insurers so they sell my details on

[Kalipo]

its a ~~~~ing joke as it is i pay ?280 a month atm for a 2.0l galaxy works out at just over 3 grand a year. atleast dick turpin wore a mask robbing bassads

Kinnel, where you live? Dorset.

I pay ?400 a year, 2 years no claims (mrs had accident).. and im 28 on a 58 plate 1.8litre Ford Cmax..

[GastonJ]

on a 58 plate 1.8litre Ford Cmax..

I'm sure there's a cure for that now