The Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, longstanding Transport Select Committee Member and campaigner against whiplash claims, Karl McCartney JP MP, has today welcomed new reforms to whiplash claims that will cut insurance premiums and save drivers across the Country money.
There has been a great deal of concern that, for too long, some people have exploited a rampant compensation culture and seen whiplash claims as an easy payday, driving up costs for millions of law-abiding motorists through their insurance premiums.
The Government is therefore introducing reforms that will crack down on minor, exaggerated and fraudulent claims.
A consultation will look at ways of reducing the unacceptably high number of whiplash claims, including proposals to scrap the right to compensation or to put a cap on the amount people can claim for minor whiplash injuries.
Karl McCartney JP MP, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, said: “Fraudulent whiplash claims affect all drivers up and down our Country, many of whom have fallen victim to the pernicious actions of some operators in this sector, including a small but significant number of solicitor and law firms.
“That’s why when I was first elected to Parliament back in 2010, I set in motion a Campaign to persuade Government to take more seriously the burgeoning compensation culture around whiplash claims, which has been estimated to add at least £93 to the average annual motor premium in the UK.
“I am hopeful that the changes proposed by the Government today will begin to tackle the incentives which have created this compensation culture and I am delighted that insurers have promised to put the cash saved back in the pockets of the Country’s drivers.
“But there is always more we can do which is why I will continue my Campaign to ensure that we always stand up for people who do the right thing and do not abuse the system.
“Those who 'play' or 'game' the system force the vast majority of the law abiding 33 million drivers to pay for their profligacy and fraud. It never affects the profits of the insurance companies as they just pass on the costs of fraud to the drivers who honestly pay their premiums each year.”
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Most recently on the 18th November 2015 Karl led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the subject of Personal Injury Claims, the text of which you can find here.
He has also tabled numerous Parliamentary Questions on the issues of insurance and whiplash, many of which you can find here.
In addition Karl has held industry workshops and briefing sessions with all those in the sector and involved in the regulation and insurance sectors, including Government Departments.
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For further information, please contact Karl McCartney JP MP at [email protected] / 020 7219 7221.