The UK’s Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) has released data for the first quarter of 2024 indicating mixed trends in claim volumes across different sectors, as highlighted by Matthew Maxwell Scott, executive director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO).
The data, accessed through a Freedom of Information request by ACSO, noted a slight decrease in motor claims compared to the previous year but a rise in clinical negligence and public liability claims.
“For clinical negligence this may be as a result of increased pressures in the NHS exacerbated by COVID, while public liability numbers could reflect the continuing return to normal since the pandemic,” Scott said.
Despite these shifts, the overall number of claims remains significantly lower than historical averages.
“However, overall claim numbers remain very low by historic standards so we should guard against attempts to ratchet down any further restrictions on injured consumers’ rights,” Scott emphasised.
|
Period |
Clinical Negligence |
Employer |
Motor |
Other |
Public |
Not Known |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
01 Jan 21 - 31 Mar 21 |
5,938 |
11,648 |
107,463 |
964 |
12,544 |
301 |
138,858 |
|
01 Apr 21 - 30 Jun 21 |
3,938 |
9,866 |
101,679 |
1,180 |
10,834 |
206 |
127,703 |
|
01 Jul 21 - 30 Sep 21 |
3,805 |
11,222 |
90,135 |
1,129 |
14,064 |
249 |
120,604 |
|
01 Oct 21 - 31 Dec 21 |
3,744 |
11,748 |
98,774 |
1,196 |
15,084 |
109 |
130,655 |
|
Total 2021 |
17,425 |
44,484 |
398,051 |
4,469 |
52,526 |
865 |
517,820 |
|
01 Jan 22 - 31 Mar 22 |
4,062 |
10,933 |
97,099 |
1,093 |
12,742 |
115 |
126,044 |
|
01 Apr 22 - 30 Jun 22 |
3,730 |
11,594 |
93,113 |
1,031 |
12,785 |
143 |
122,396 |
|
01 Jul 22 - 30 Sep 22 |
3,593 |
11,168 |
96,176 |
1,221 |
14,140 |
68 |
126,366 |
|
01 Oct 22 - 31 Dec 22 |
3,311 |
9,651 |
84,257 |
922 |
11,943 |
79 |
110,163 |
|
Total 2022 |
14,696 |
43,346 |
370,645 |
4,267 |
51,610 |
405 |
484,969 |
|
01 Jan 23 - 31 Mar 23 |
3,809 |
11,315 |
93,989 |
1,569 |
14,535 |
188 |
125,405 |
|
01 Apr 23 - 30 Jun 23 |
3,406 |
10,621 |
89,361 |
1,578 |
13,683 |
176 |
118,825 |
|
01 Jul 23 - 30 Sep 23 |
4,374 |
10,926 |
85,830 |
1,900 |
14,545 |
157 |
117,732 |
|
01 Oct 23 - 31 Dec 23 |
3,329 |
11,434 |
83,050 |
2,105 |
14,609 |
213 |
114,740 |
|
Total 2023 |
14,918 |
44,296 |
352,230 |
7,152 |
57,372 |
734 |
476,702 |
|
01 Jan 24 - 31 Mar 24 |
4,730 |
11,566 |
90,565 |
2,716 |
16,096 |
250 |
125,923 |
The latest CRU data release also precedes two significant reviews in the legal landscape: the Ministry of Justice’s scheduled reassessment of the Civil Liability Act and the government’s response to the recent review of the whiplash tariff. Both are set to occur in May.
Predictions suggest a potential inflationary increase in the tariff exceeding 20%, in line with the trends observed in the latest edition of the Judicial College Guidelines.
In related insurance market trends, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Motor Insurance Premium Tracker reported a substantial 25% increase in average premium prices over the past year.
These figures and forthcoming legal reviews indicate a potentially shifting landscape for UK insurance and liability claims in 2024.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please feel free to share your comments below.
