Road traffic accident personal injury claims, about 90 per cent of which are whiplash claims, are 50 per cent higher than a decade ago, despite the UK having some of the safest roads in Europe, better in-car safety features, and a fall in the number of accidents. The small claims track limit for personal injury claims has not been raised for 25 years since 1991 and a rise is long overdue. Raising the small claims limit would mean both sides bear their own legal costs.
With a view to tackling the continuing high number and cost of whiplash claims, and following consultation, Ministers have made a number of policy decisions, including increasing the small claims limit for road traffic accident related personal injury claims, to £5,000 and the limit for all other types of personal injury claim to £2,000.
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