While a law group has urged the government to delay the upcoming “whiplash” online claims system, its developers have completed the first testing rounds and are confident that the system will be launched by April as planned.
The claims system is at the heart of whiplash reform measures approved by Parliament in 2018, aiming to reduce pay-outs for exaggerated and fraudulent claims from minor soft-tissue injuries caused by motor accidents.
The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) has been tasked with creating and implementing the claims system, through which both lawyers and claimants can pursue a claim quickly and easily. And an MIB spokesperson recently told the Law Society Gazette that feedback following the completion of the first two testing phases in November has been “positive.”
“Feedback from consumer testing so far has been very positive and coupled with insights from accessibility testing, the results are helping us identify areas we can improve ahead of the service launch,” the spokesperson said.
The Gazette reports that the next phase of testing is due to start this month covering the full process, and further feedback will be published on its completion.
The claims system recently experienced pushback from Gordon Dalyell, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), who told the Financial Times that there “ought to be some delay to make sure that it can be done properly”
