Road traffic accident (RTA) claims fell to a historic low of 328,637 in 2024, down from 352,230 in 2023.
This is according to personal injury data obtained by the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) through a Freedom of Information request.
The figures reveal a decline in motor injury claims, which fell by more than 50% since 2018, despite increasing vehicle numbers and consistent annual mileage. This drop raises concerns about access to compensation for injured parties.
"People are still suffering injuries from RTAs, but they are not claiming, even though they have every right to do so," said ACSO executive director Matthew Maxwell Scott. "The government and insurers have worked hard, through a mix of public policy and public relations, to make it increasingly difficult for injured people to get redress, despite continuing historic highs for the cost of motor insurance."
He urged the government's Motor Insurance Taskforce to investigate the disparity between promised consumer savings and actual motor insurance costs following the whiplash reforms. L
Likewise, he emphasised the need for insurers to fulfil commitments made when the reforms became law in 2018.
The data reveals concerning trends across other claim categories. Clinical negligence claims saw a 10% increase between 2023 and 2024, potentially reflecting ongoing challenges within the National Health Service. Public liability claims rose by 15% during the same period, while employer liability claims remained static.
"All claims, with the exception of clinical negligence, are down since 2018, reflecting a society where injured people increasingly cannot expect to be supported after they have an accident," Scott noted.
This trend suggests a shift in access to compensation for injury victims.
The release of this data comes at a time as the Financial Conduct Authority prepares to publish its findings on whiplash savings. The upcoming report is expected to scrutinise the insurance industry's delivery of promised consumer benefits following the implementation of whiplash reforms.
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