Sliding scale on whiplash?

A leading insurer has suggested a sliding scale for whiplash injuries.

In a speech at the recent Association of British Insurers conference last week, Andy Watson, chief executive of Ageas UK, called for greater collaboration between all the groups involved in the insurance process, from brokers to lawyers. One way to reduce conflict during the claims process, he suggested, was to introduce a sliding scale for whiplash claims depending on when the claim was made. Claimants who brought their claim near to the end of the three-year limitation period would therefore receive less. This would encourage claimants to bring their case at an earlier stage when the facts are more easily determined.

However, personal injury lawyers found the comments “worrying”. Jonathan Leach, solicitor and director at Watson Rambottom, for example, pointed out that the three-year deadline is already half that of negligence cases not based on personal injury.