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David Ward MP <>
David welcomes whiplash crack down
December 11, 2012 2:38 PM
David Ward campaigning on car insurance with local taxi drivers
Bradford MP and car insurance campaigner David Ward has welcomed Government proposals to tackle insurance abuse.
Under Ministry of Justice plans announced today, new panels of medical experts could be created to diagnose which whiplash claims are genuine and which are exaggerated or fraudulent. The Government have also unveiled a range of other measures, including proposals to allow whiplash claims to be challenged in the small claims courts.
Commenting, David said:
"This is very welcome news and the Government should be congratulated for taking this issue seriously. It is absurd that it is cheaper for insurance companies to accept claims that they know to be bogus rather than challenge them in the courts.
"Tackling fraudulent and opportunistic whiplash claims is absolutely key to getting the cost of car insurance under control in Bradford. We have more than double the national average number of whiplash claims, and our report last summer showed that this is one of the major factors pushing up premiums locally.
"There is still a lot of work to be done on how the new panels will be work, and I will be seeking a meeting with Ministry of Justice officials to discuss their proposals in more detail. And if the Government need a demonstration that this can work, what better place to trial it than in Bradford?
"This is a complex problem and Bradford motorists will tell you that we are still a long way away from solving it. But between this, the OFT investigation and a new police unit to combat fraud we are definitely on the right track."
The Ministry of Justice public consultation on the proposals can be accessed here: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/reducing-number-cost-whiplash