‘Whiplash isn’t a victimless crime’
Insurers have rallied together to keep reforms to whiplash compensation on the table by insisting they won’t allow the government to let the issue be kicked into the long grass.
The government has said proposals are not off the agenda, but that they are not a priority at the moment.
However, many insurers believe that delays are having a direct impact on the price of premiums.
Speaking to Insurance Age, Rob Townend, claims director at Aviva UK General Insurance, said, ‘We’ll be pushing on all fronts for this to happen and we’ll be continuing to shout about the things that are happening to our customers that we think are wrong. We’re not going to go quiet on this subject.’
Among the reforms put forward were proposals to limit compensation to £5,000 while taking compensation off the table completely for minor soft tissue injuries. A consultation into the issue was expected to be published in the summer.
Rob continued, ‘This really is about the consumer and everybody thinks whiplash is a victimless crime, but it’s not. We’re calling for the consultation to be issued, because then all stakeholders will have the opportunity to put forward their solution to the problem.’
