The UK is the European Whiplash Capital

UK Whiplash Capital?

At 5pm today, Prime Minister David Cameron is meeting with representatives from the UK insurance industry at Downing Street to discuss what can be done to quash the UK’s compensation culture. In particular, the PM wants to focus on reducing car whiplash claims which he says are a ‘stranglehold’ on businesses and individuals when they are at their most vulnerable and in greatest need. Sources: BBC; Bloomberg; Telegraph
 

Andy Jenkins, Operational Director at Russell Scanlan, one of the oldest heritage insurance brokers in the East Midlands, says “there is a need for a concerted effort by all parties involved to reduce the wastage to the UK economy created by this aspect of our compensation culture”. He believes that the following points must be raised at this afternoon’s meeting: 

• Adopt a minimum speed limit on how fast a car should be travelling before a whiplash claim is admissible.
• Direct resource to combat the “cash for crash” gangs that operate in the UK.
• Work on having a medical definition for whiplash and insist on 2 independent medical reports to substantiate the alleged injury.
• Prohibit the promotion of whiplash claim ambulance chasing by solicitors.
• Restrict the income that lawyers can earn from whiplash claims.
• Greater use of in car “smartboxes” which would also help with the cost of insurance for young drivers.