Accredited medical panels to verify whiplash

Under proposals announced by the MoJ panels of "accredited" doctors are to be set up to vet all whiplash claims. The process of approving doctors for the panels will begin soon, in order to enable the system to start next year.

 

According to the ABI, whiplash is now costing motorists £2bn a year, adding an average of £90 to each premium. Chris Grayling said: "We are turning the tide on the compensation culture and helping hardworking people by tackling high insurance premiums and other motoring costs. It's not right that people who cheat the insurance system get away with it while forcing up the price for everyone else - so we are now going after whiplash fraudsters and will keep on driving premiums down."

 

Independent doctors' panels were welcomed by experts. James Dalton, the ABI's head of motor and liability, commented: "We have long called for more robust medical assessment of whiplash claimants.

 

Setting up independent panels of accredited experts will help the UK shake off its reputation as the whiplash capital of Europe." Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, added: "Bogus whiplash claims create a grinding financial burden on millions of honest motorists. These proposals are to be welcomed if they manage to weed out fraudulent claims in a fast, cost-effective manner."

(source: the times)