Government proposals to streamline low-value personal injury claims are expected to be put before the insurance industry next month.
It is understood that the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is to hold a series of stakeholder meetings this month to finalise its proposals. A consultation will follow in October.
But senior claims managers have criticised the DCA for failing to keep them informed of its moves. One source told Insurance Times: "They are holding meetings but they haven't told us about it."
Another added: "The UK is beginning to lag behind Europe on this, and that is because there are too many industry stakeholders trying to get their own way."
There are also concerns that personal injury lawyers and trade unions will use the Labour Party conference at the end of September to lobby MPs on the issues, which could derail the proposals.
"My fear is that the DCA will make proposals that look great, but then it will all be changed at the Labour conference," said one source. "The timing isn't great. It seems to have been forgotten that there is a claimant who is meant to be at the heart of the process."
It is believed the DCA proposals will be specifically aimed at low value professional liability and employers' liability claims. They will aim to speed up the claims process, introduce early notification of claims to insurers and reduce negotiation periods.
Steve Thomas, technical claims director at Zurich, said: "We would like to see this picking up pace. It is starting to get frustrating, let's move forward and get things moving."
