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09 April 2025
Issue: 8112 / Categories: Legal News , Personal injury , Damages , Compensation , Insurance / reinsurance
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Car crash compensation under review

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed it will review the whiplash reforms this year, despite a glowing review from the Treasury.

In March, the Treasury reported that the whiplash reforms have reduced insurance premiums by about £31 per policyholder, close to the promised £35.

Last week, however, justice minister Sir Nicholas Dakin told MPs: ‘Although it is a factual reporting of the information from insurers provided to HM Treasury through the Financial Conduct Authority, it does not represent the government’s view, so it is right and proper that, separately from the report, the MoJ will undertake a post-implementation review of the whiplash reforms later this year.’

Sir Nicholas was speaking during a debate on the draft Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which uprates the tariff values.

Reforms to whiplash law in 2021 introduced fixed tariffs, increased the small claims threshold from £1,000 to £5,000, and required a medical report before settlement of claims.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Keystone Law—Milena Szuniewicz-Wenzel & Ian Hopkinson

Keystone Law—Milena Szuniewicz-Wenzel & Ian Hopkinson

International arbitration team strengthened by double partner hire

Coodes Solicitors—Pam Johns, Rachel Pearce & Bradley Kaine

Coodes Solicitors—Pam Johns, Rachel Pearce & Bradley Kaine

Firm celebrates trio holding senior regional law society and junior lawyers division roles

Michelman Robinson—Sukhi Kaler

Michelman Robinson—Sukhi Kaler

Partner joins commercial and business litigation team in London

NEWS
The Legal Action Group (LAG)—the UK charity dedicated to advancing access to justice—has unveiled its calendar of training courses, seminars and conferences designed to support lawyers, advisers and other legal professionals in tackling key areas of public interest law
As the drip-feed of Epstein disclosures fuels ‘collateral damage’, the rush to cry misconduct in public office may be premature. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke of Hill Dickinson warns that the offence is no catch-all for political embarrassment. It demands a ‘grave departure’ from proper standards, an ‘abuse of the public’s trust’ and conduct ‘sufficiently serious to warrant criminal punishment’
Employment law is shifting at the margins. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ this week, Ian Smith of Norwich Law School examines a Court of Appeal ruling confirming that volunteers are not a special legal species and may qualify as ‘workers’
Criminal juries may be convicting—or acquitting—on a misunderstanding. Writing in NLJ this week Paul McKeown, Adrian Keane and Sally Stares of The City Law School and LSE report troubling survey findings on the meaning of ‘sure’
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has narrowly preserved a key weapon in its anti-corruption arsenal. In this week's NLJ, Jonathan Fisher KC of Red Lion Chambers examines Guralp Systems Ltd v SFO, in which the High Court ruled that a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) remained in force despite the company’s failure to disgorge £2m by the stated deadline
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