“Don’t forget genuine motor accident victims” says MASS

Published: 03/05/2012

The Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS) has issued a statement in response to Wednesday’s whiplash summit, focusing on the importance of assisting genuine accident claimants.

Whiplash claims have dominated industry news of late with insurers alleging such claims add around £90 to every insurance policy. Such assertions have prompted the Government to “crack down” on whiplash claims. However MASS is fearful this potentially drastic and kneejerk reaction could bear a significant impact on legitimate victims.

MASS is in full support of claimants needing to prove their injuries before receiving any compensation via a medical assessment and has welcomed the Government proposals.

It has dubbed the ‘German myth’ - where there should be a speed below which whiplash wouldn’t be considered - as over-simplistic, naïve and unworkable.

It is also strongly against the Government’s proposal to raise the small claims limit from £1000 to £5000 with Chair of the MASS, Donna Scully, issuing this statement:

“This idea has already been consulted on at length and rejected previously by the Ministry of Justice in 2007 on the grounds that it would stop genuine accident victims from receiving access to justice. As an alternative, the insurance and legal sectors have worked together on the Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Portal to bring down costs and improve the system.

“We feel the RTA portal has already been successful and would urge the Government and industry to focus on getting it absolutely right, rather than visiting rejected policy ideas.”

Content correct at time of publication

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