Implementation of the whiplash reform programme scheduled for may 2021

Contact our team to discuss your whiplash or road traffic accident personal injury claim via [email protected] or call 01603 214 220.

Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC has today announced in parliament that the whiplash reform programme will be implemented in May 2021.

This is further delay to the already-postponed scheme which was initially due to go live in April 2020. The delays have been attributed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Once implemented, the new ‘Official Injury Claim Service’ portal will allow unrepresented claimants to handle their own claims, with insurers paying compensation based on a fixed tariff. The small claims limit for small road traffic accident personal injury claims is also set to be increased to £5,000. There will be a fixed damages tariff for whiplash injuries that last up to two years, and a ban on making or accepting offers to settle a whiplash claim without a medical report.

Former Hatch Brenner Personal Injury expert Pasha Alnadaf commented: “The government today stressed that delivering the whiplash reforms remains a key priority. We are concerned that implementation should only happen once all issues have been ironed out, and the public has been given sufficient information regarding the new systems and processes. We hope that giving notice on the May live date now will allow all the associated parties to prepare in advance to iron out any outstanding issues with plenty of notice. Any claimants with low-value claims should consider moving to process their claim before the reforms are implemented as once the small claims limit is increased, legal costs will no longer be able to be recovered for cases worth less than £5,000.”

If you’re wondering how much do solicitors charge for personal injury claims, especially with the upcoming whiplash reforms, the answer depends on when and how you bring your claim. At Hatch Brenner, we offer clear, upfront advice and may act on a no-win, no-fee basis where appropriate. With changes to small claims and fixed tariffs on the horizon, it’s more important than ever to seek expert legal guidance early to protect your right to compensation.

Contact our team to discuss your whiplash or road traffic accident personal injury claim via [email protected] or call 01603 214 220.