Car insurance 'could be more affordable with tougher whiplash rules'

Tougher rules on when people can claim on their car insurance for whiplash may be needed to keep premiums down.

This is the opinion of MPs on the cross-party Transport Select Committee, who said compensation thresholds should be raised on the neck injury and there may even be a need for new legislation on the issue.

Chair of the panel Louise Ellman said if the number of people getting payouts for whiplash does not go down, the government may need to put laws in place that "require objective evidence - both of a whiplash injury and of it having a significant effect on the claimant's life - before compensation is paid".

The politician explained "diagnosis is often subjective" when it comes to the neck problem, which makes it difficult and expensive to challenge a claim.

According to NHS Choices, whiplash is caused by damage to ligaments and tendons when the head is moved violently, resulting in pain, stiffness, headaches and muscle spasms.

• Previous article
• Next article