‘Changing behaviours’ contributing to slowdown of personal injury claims – ACSO

People are “still getting injured in regrettably large numbers” on UK roads and “many are not seeking out the redress available to them”, according to Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) executive director Matthew Maxwell Scott.

Scott issued the warning yesterday (2 August 2023) after the latest Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed a drop claims numbers despite thousands of people still being killed or injured on the roads every year.

The CRU works with insurance companies, solicitors and DWP customers to recover the likes of social security benefits paid as a result of an accident, injury or disease.

NHS charges can also be recovered.

The data showed that motor claims had continued to decline – Scott highlighted that there had been a 43% fall from 654,000 in 2019 to 371,000 in 2022.

This was despite Transport for London reporting in May 2023 that there were 23,903 reported collisions in London last year alone – resulting in 101 people being killed, 3,873 being seriously injured and 23,287 being slightly injured.

Across Great Britain in 2022, the Department for Transport stated that those killed or serious injured fell by 3% to 29,795, while casualties of all severities dropped by 11% to 136,002.

Data mismatch

However, “the falls of 3% in fatalities and severe injuries and 11% in all injury types since 2019 are small compared to the 43% fall in motor claims numbers”, Scott said.

ACSO stated that the data did “not show the cause” of the drop in motor claims numbers, however, the firm believes that the continued decline is a result of both “changing behaviours” and the UK government reforms such as the 2018 Civil Liability Act.

“The conclusion is that while people are still getting injured in regrettably large numbers on our roads, many are not seeking out the redress available to them – including the rehabilitation they might need,” said Scott.

“In a period of rapidly increasing motor insurance premiums, it is difficult to see how any of this is a win for consumers, especially injured ones.”

ACSO obtained the data by submitting a Freedom of Information request.