The number of personal injury motor insurance claims has fallen to the lowest level in almost a decade, Government figures published today reveal.

“This discredits the principles behind the Civil Liability Bill, due to be debated by peers tomorrow, which the Government claims will reduce premiums by slashing injury compensation paid to people with whiplash injuries. It also targets payments made to people with the most devastating life-long disabilities,” said Brett Dixon, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) a national, not-for-profit campaign group for injured people.

“Injury claims are not behind rising premiums. The mischief clearly lies elsewhere,” he said. 

The number of motor injury claims for the past 10 years are as follows:

2008/09           625,072

2009/10           674,997

2010/11           790,999

2011/12           828,489

2012/13           818,334

2013/14           772,843

2014/15           761,878

2015/16           770,791

2016/17           780,324

2017/18           650,019

“Motor claims are not rocketing. Insurance industry evidence also shows very clearly that the cost to insurance companies of motor injury claims has been falling for a long time, by 21 per cent since 2013 to be precise*,” said Mr Dixon.

“This Bill will not achieve its aims to lower premium costs for motorists. The insurance industry will get away with using injured people as scapegoats. Any concept of fairness or compassion or help for genuinely injured people will sacrificed for the empty promise of cheaper car insurance.”

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Notes to editors:

*Source: Association of British Insurers (ABI)

• The number of motor injury claims are registered with the Government’s Compensation Recovery Unit, which is part of the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP).
• APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) is a not-for-profit organisation whose members are dedicated to campaigning for improvements in the law to help people who are injured or become ill through no fault of their own.
• For more information contact APIL's communications manager Jane Hartwell on t: 0115 943 5416, e: [email protected], or press and communications officer Lizzy Freeman t: 0115 943 5431, e:[email protected].
• Visit the association's website at www.apil.org.uk.
• Follow @APIL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APIL.