Figures show significant drop in whiplash claims
Whiplash claims in the UK fell by nearly 60,000 last year, it has emerged.
Figures from the department of work and pensions compensation recovery unit, obtained by a freedom of information (FoI) request, show there were 488,281 whiplash claims in 2012/13, compared with 547,405 in 2011/12. This contradicts government concerns about a whiplash epidemic pushing up premiums.
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee last week that the UK has 79% more vehicles per km of road than the European average. It also pointed out an Office of Fair Trading finding that insurers’ approach to car repair and replacement “may push up premiums for drivers by £225m a year”, and an Association of British Insurers report in March that showed 29% of car insurance premiums goes towards repair and replacement.
