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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\nAs the Official Injury Claim portal reaches its fourth birthday, the Association of Consumer Support Organisations calls for change.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nThe Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) is calling for a comprehensive government review of the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal and wider personal injury legal reforms, as significant problems remain four years after the portal\u2019s launch.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe OIC, which processes minor injury claims under \u00a35,000, has handled over a million claims since its inception but <\/span>continues to face criticism<\/span><\/a> for its inefficiencies and complexity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nACSO, a not-for-profit membership body that represents the interests of consumers in the UK\u2019s civil justice system,\u00a0argues that a root-and-branch review is necessary to assess whether the reforms have truly delivered on their promises to consumers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nConcerns over motor insurance promises<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\nACSO\u2019s executive director, Matthew Maxwell Scott, has highlighted the long-awaited study by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into whether insurers have passed on \u00a335 per premium per year in savings to motorists, as initially promised. With motor insurance costs still at historic highs, he expressed doubt that insurers have met their obligations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cMotor insurers agreed to compensate consumers in return for them losing some of their rights of redress following an accident,\u201d said Maxwell Scott. \u201cGiven the cost of motor insurance remains near record levels, we are sceptical that insurers have met their promises, but no doubt they will have some excuses ready.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDrop in claims raises questions<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\nOne of the key justifications for the OIC portal was to reduce unnecessary or fraudulent claims. However, Maxwell Scott pointed out that claims have dropped by approximately 50% since 2018, despite stable vehicle numbers and mileage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cPeople are still getting injured, but for a variety of reasons, they are choosing not to claim,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to know why, especially as the cost of motor insurance soared to record high levels in 2024.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe OIC was designed to be consumer-friendly, yet only around 10% of claimants use it unaided. ACSO is questioning whether the complexity of the process deters claimants from even starting a case.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMixed injury claims still stuck<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\nAnother persistent issue is the backlog of mixed injury claims \u2013 cases involving both whiplash and other injuries. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 clarifying the legal framework for these claims, ACSO estimates that at least 500,000 such cases remain stuck in the portal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe expected the backlog to shift, but it has not,\u201d said Maxwell Scott. \u201cThe review should investigate this and explore how the sector can work together to create frameworks for quicker, fairer settlements.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHe also pointed to ongoing delays in the County Courts, which mean cases that cannot be settled in the portal take over a year to be heard, allowing defendants to delay payouts further.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCall for immediate action<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\nACSO is urging the FCA to publish its findings on insurance premium savings immediately and is calling on the Ministry of Justice to launch a full review of the Civil Liability Act and the OIC portal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201che whiplash reforms came about as a result of intense insurer lobbying,\u201d said Maxwell Scott. \u201cNow, we need an equally intense examination of what was promised versus what has been delivered.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHe also criticised the apparent dissolution of the government\u2019s Motor Insurance Taskforce, urging the new Transport Secretary to reinstate it as part of the review process.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cAs long as motor insurance is a compulsory product, giving consumers no power of exit, it needs to be held to exacting standards when it comes to transparency and value for money,\u201d he added. \u201cCurrently, no such standards exist.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nImage credit: <\/span>\u00a9 Jonathan Borba from Pexels<\/span><\/a> via Canva<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n
The OIC, which processes minor injury claims under \u00a35,000, has handled over a million claims since its inception but <\/span>continues to face criticism<\/span><\/a> for its inefficiencies and complexity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ACSO, a not-for-profit membership body that represents the interests of consumers in the UK\u2019s civil justice system,\u00a0argues that a root-and-branch review is necessary to assess whether the reforms have truly delivered on their promises to consumers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ACSO\u2019s executive director, Matthew Maxwell Scott, has highlighted the long-awaited study by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into whether insurers have passed on \u00a335 per premium per year in savings to motorists, as initially promised. With motor insurance costs still at historic highs, he expressed doubt that insurers have met their obligations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMotor insurers agreed to compensate consumers in return for them losing some of their rights of redress following an accident,\u201d said Maxwell Scott. \u201cGiven the cost of motor insurance remains near record levels, we are sceptical that insurers have met their promises, but no doubt they will have some excuses ready.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the key justifications for the OIC portal was to reduce unnecessary or fraudulent claims. However, Maxwell Scott pointed out that claims have dropped by approximately 50% since 2018, despite stable vehicle numbers and mileage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeople are still getting injured, but for a variety of reasons, they are choosing not to claim,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to know why, especially as the cost of motor insurance soared to record high levels in 2024.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The OIC was designed to be consumer-friendly, yet only around 10% of claimants use it unaided. ACSO is questioning whether the complexity of the process deters claimants from even starting a case.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another persistent issue is the backlog of mixed injury claims \u2013 cases involving both whiplash and other injuries. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 clarifying the legal framework for these claims, ACSO estimates that at least 500,000 such cases remain stuck in the portal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe expected the backlog to shift, but it has not,\u201d said Maxwell Scott. \u201cThe review should investigate this and explore how the sector can work together to create frameworks for quicker, fairer settlements.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He also pointed to ongoing delays in the County Courts, which mean cases that cannot be settled in the portal take over a year to be heard, allowing defendants to delay payouts further.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ACSO is urging the FCA to publish its findings on insurance premium savings immediately and is calling on the Ministry of Justice to launch a full review of the Civil Liability Act and the OIC portal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201che whiplash reforms came about as a result of intense insurer lobbying,\u201d said Maxwell Scott. \u201cNow, we need an equally intense examination of what was promised versus what has been delivered.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He also criticised the apparent dissolution of the government\u2019s Motor Insurance Taskforce, urging the new Transport Secretary to reinstate it as part of the review process.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs long as motor insurance is a compulsory product, giving consumers no power of exit, it needs to be held to exacting standards when it comes to transparency and value for money,\u201d he added. \u201cCurrently, no such standards exist.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nConcerns over motor insurance promises<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Drop in claims raises questions<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Mixed injury claims still stuck<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Call for immediate action<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Image credit: <\/span>\u00a9 Jonathan Borba from Pexels<\/span><\/a> via Canva<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n
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