If you are unlucky enough to have been involved in a road traffic accident you will discover that getting advice and help just got a whole lot more difficult for consumers.
The insurance industry has persuaded government that people involved in relatively minor road traffic accidents should be able to make their own claims for injury compensation and that solicitors are an unnecessary added cost and burden on the system. Under the new rules an injured person cannot recover the costs of their solicitor so many legally qualified experts no longer help with this type of claim.
From May 2021 new laws came into effect that created a digital portal for any road traffic accident personal injury claim valued at under £5000. At the same time the Small Claims Court Limit increased from £1000 to £5000 for road traffic accident personal injury claims. So if you have been involved in a relatively minor road traffic accident we suggest you look at https://www.officialinjuryclaim.org.uk/ and consider if this may apply to you.
The second major effect of the new laws is to award compensation for whiplash according to a tariff scale system. See below.
Duration of injury
Amount –
Regulation 2(1)(a)
Regulation 2(1)(b)
Not more than 3 months
£240
£260
More than 3 months, but not more than 6 months
£495
£520
More than 6 months, but not more than 9 months
£840
£895
More than 9 months, but not more than 12 months
£1,320
£1,390
More than 12 months, but not more than 15 months
£2,040
£2,125
More than 15 months, but not more than 18 months
£3,005
£3,100
More than 18 months, but not more than 24 months
£4,215
£4,345.
Please note that as always with new laws there are exceptions. For example, claims involving children are excluded from the new portal claims system.
This article is not intended to be advice regarding your particular claim. You may be able to obtain advice from certain claim organisations, Citizens Advice or local law centres.
Please contact Swindon Accident Solicitors on 01793 425595 for a FREE, no obligation consultation on how to make a claim for compensation.
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