The claims process for road traffic accidents compensation has recently changed, with low value compensation claims coming under a new process which will speed up the claims process. The new process will only apply to those cases which have an estimated compensation payout of between a thousand and ten thousand pounds and the biggest change to the process is how you register your wish to claim.
Prior to the change the process meant that the insurer had a 21 day period in which they acknowledge receipt of the letter of claim, then a period of three months in which to carry out investigative work, so they could decide whether they were liable or not. A frustrating length of time for the potential claimant.
However, since the new ruling, rather than sending a letter, potential claimants will use a secire online portal to submit an online Claims Notification Form, thus notifying the insurer of their attempt to claim. Once the insurer has been notified they then have just 15 days to respond with their liability decision, which they will also submit online.
There is more detail necessary in the new Claims Notification Form, than in the old letter of claim and so the initial logging of a claim takes the claimant longer, as they will need to gather the appropriate information. However, once they have done this they will obviously receive a decision from the insurer much more quickly, making the overall process less time consuming.
Another big difference to the old process is that rather than waiting for the insurers offer, it is the claimant who makes an initial settlement offer, based on the medical evidence and any financial losses.
The third time saving measure is that if liability is not in question, but a settlement figure cannot be agreed then rather than a court appearance the Court will make a judgement based on the information they already have.
As the process is still relatively new it is difficult to make a judgement on its success, and of course not every case will go through the entire process as if liability is not admitted or their are other issues then the usual procedure will stand.
If you have had an RTA and think you have a whiplash, head or neck injury claim, then a personal injury solicitor can see if you are elgible to make a compensation injury claim
