Whiplash Claims / Insurance Increases
 

FAO of those who ask why insurance is going up (not in all cases of course :mrgreen:) we had some figures this week about claims in 2010

There were 400,000 whiplash claims last year (only whiplash, so no other personal injury, repair costs, theft claims, windscreen claims, hire car costs, etc....) with an average payout of £5k per claim.

So that's £2bn, 20% of all premiums taken by insurers, paid out on just whiplash claims.

This figure is expected to rise in 2011.

(Our claims figures are WELL BELOW average, hence we're still VERY competitive (IMO), and hope to stay the same way.)

Jesus!!!

A whole load of made up claims there imho

How many of the claims are contested??

Costs too much money to contest, and the law is on the side of the person claiming.

Hingkongfooi - i personally wonder how many of those 400,000 are actually injured at all.

Any chance to claim/sue the people in this country jump at the chance, to much like America if you ask me.
These people that claim should be heavily charged on there next renewal, its the people that have never claimed that are paying the price for these cheating scum bags!!!

It's cheaper to pay the fine than the policy in most cases!!!

.... untill you hit someone and you have to pay the £5k + and other repair cost out of your own pocket, then insurance becomes a bargain!!! (but i know what you mean)

It's very true what you said about America, we're getting as bad as them nowadays.

How do cages affect insurance Gary???

Used to be ok, but more and more companies are refusing to do them.
Apparently they can be dangerous if you're not wearing a helmet

so the stig's ok then...

Mmmm, and i bet the companies that are doing them are expensive then?

Not really too bad.

Personally i'd never have one.
I had a crash many years ago that i got out of without a scratch. If the car had a rollcage fitted i'd have had a fractured skull or worse.
Not worth it IMO.

But if you intend to use it on track aswell!!!

Me too, some people just see it as free cash.

All these sodding 'no win, no fee' lawyers make matters worse too, such a stupid blame/claim culture.

:rant:

I've seen a few fair accidents on track, none of them needed a cage, even when the Evo rolled 2-3 times at Brands.
It's all down to choice, but i'd never fit one.

.... although a half cage would be ok

Mentioned this on a thread the other day!
Many things need to be taken into account when fitting one
As Gary said they are only really designed as race/track use(with a helmet and full harness belts and usually a framed fia seat and probably a HAS system!
I have read a lot of insurance companies just say a flat NO when it comes to them!
That doesn't even matter when you imagine say a newage Subaru with a steering wheel airbag and seat side airbags taken out and a solid iron bar right next to your head!
It really doesn't matter how heavy you pad it it ain't gonna be like an airbag when you hit it!!!!
It's a choice thing I know, but on a road car I would never have one fitted ( I personally don't know anyone whose life was saved by a cage)
But airbags save lives on a daily basis as insurance figures would show !

Too many people see it as easy money, but moan when they have to pay high insurance premiums

Something needs to be done. We are turning into America