Whiplash claims add an average of £118 to every driver’s annual car insurance bill, Aviva has revealed.
A new report published by the insurer stated premiums have risen by 80 per cent since October 2008 following a sharp rise in the number of personal injury (PI) claims, particularly regarding incidents of whiplash.
The publication – which is called Road to Reform: Reducing Motor Premiums by Reforming the Personal Injury Claims Process – outlined Aviva’s proposals to improve the PI claims system and indicated that if insurers handle claims directly, car insurance premiums could be slashed by £1.5 billion.
Dominic Clayden, claims director at the company, said Aviva’s primary concerns are that injured drivers receive compensation as quickly as possible and all motorists benefit from a reduction in costs.
He added: “We are campaigning for a more efficient system that removes the ‘interested parties’ and requires people to deal directly with the insurer of the at-fault party.”
The Aviva document was launched ahead of the Ministry of Justice Whiplash Consultation, which is set to come to an end on March 8th.