What's Causing Increased Amount Of Personal Injury Claims?

News stories recently have been suggesting that personal injury claims are on the rise whilst at the same time accidents seem to be dropping; one north east law firm believes that the recession is playing a major part in the rise of personal injury claims being made.

TBI Solicitors have cited a number of reasons for the rise of claims, suggesting that struggling business could be cutting corners with employee health and safety in an attempt to cut corners or just the simple fact that people are more likely to claim because they don't have enough money.

Helen Elstob, personal injury specialist with TBI Solicitors, said: "It is understandable that many businesses are currently taking actions to reduce costs, but it is vital that workers safety is not compromised."

Ms Elstob advised that employers have a duty to protect their staff, contractors and visitors to their business.

Work claims providing seveal thousands

Compensation for injuries at work have often cost businesses several thousand pounds; average current levels of compensation for industrial injuries include up to £24,500 for vibration white finger, and up to £16,000 for a moderate foot injury.

Ms Elstob added: "Industrial accidents are a common occurrence, and even in an office environment, accidents can and do happen. If you have any queries about your rights if you have suffered an injury, you should seek legal advice."

Whilst lawyers have noted a rise in the number of claims being made it seems that it is insurance companies that are felling the brunt of the increased number of claims being made.

It has got so bad that some have been suggesting that £44 a year has been added to premiums because of whiplash fraudsters. Yet despite the figures insurance companies are still left scratching their heads wondering why the number of accidents is falling yet the number of claims are on the rise.

The stats from the Department of transport said that road casualties are down eight per cent from last year.

Personal injury claims on the up

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said: "This year has seen fuel prices rise along with other demands on family budgets as well as rising levels of redundancy, all of which discourages car use: indeed, the Department for Transport notes that traffic volumes fell by two per cent over the year."

"But the number of personal injury claims is going up."

One possible answer to the conflicting data could be the reports of a rise in fraudulent personal injury claims. This claims known a crash for cash fraudsters, purposely become involved in minor crashes and then claim for injuries such as whiplash.

The problem has got so bad that a recent survey discovered that a huge 98 per cent of GPs believed they had seen a patient who was exaggerating injuries caused by a car accident.

It seems that there are a number of factors at work pushing up there number of personal injury claims being made, but one thing is true the number of fraudulent claims being made could well start to damage the chances of with serious legitimate injuries looking to make a claim.