Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis has condemned the growing culture of fraudulent whiplash claims saying that insurance companies must do more to combat them.
The PCC has welcomed a new report from the Commons Transport Select Committee which says that insurance companies must insist on medical examinations for all whiplash claimants.
Mr Ellis said: “This bent behaviour by a growing minority costs honest people who pay their insurance premiums more money. Some in the insurance industry have been taking the easy way out for too long, by not challenging potentially fraudulent claims. The judgement by a company that it’s cheaper simply to pay the claim rather than challenge some claimants, who are committing fraud, just isn’t good enough.
“This lack of effort by insurance companies is encouraging an industry of fraudulent claims which ruins lives and costs the rest of us more. It’s a modern day racket and I strongly support these recommendations to combat it.
“While insisting on medical examinations may cost insurance companies more in the short term, it will save them money and the rest of us in the long-term, as the number of fraudulent claims will fall. It will also protect claimants who have been genuinely injured in collisions.
“Sending a strong message against whiplash fraudsters is critical. The strong message that lies behind Staffordshire’s insurance dodger clampdown ‘Cars Behind Bars’, has in the last few months seen the number of uninsured drivers reduce here. This is against a national trend of year on year increases across the country.”
Cars Behind Bars has seen over 2,250 vehicles seized in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent since it was instigated by the Commissioner in May 2013.
