Motor Claims Volumes Continue To Fall, Says Latest CRU Data

The number of motor claims registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU), the official route for injury claims, has fallen to their lowest level ever for this first quarter of the year. Of course that isn’t to say that the average cost of each claim has fallen, because as the repair, storage and recovery costs increase insurers face a bigger bill – hence the rising number of written-off vehicles. Here’s the word from ACSO;

Normally, winter driving conditions mean that Jan-March shows a higher than average number of motor injury clams registered with the unit. 93,989 claims were made in the first quarter, compared to 97,099 in Jan-March 2022, and 155,860 in Jan-March 2020, just before the pandemic.

ACSO executive director Matthew Maxwell Scott, who obtained the latest data following an FOI request, said that while UK traffic levels have recovered since 2020 the number of motor injury claims continues to fall. Year on year, the total number of claims continues to fall in line with the broader contraction in the clams market.

“Of course, this is good news if it reflects fewer road traffic accidents, but we don’t believe this to be the case. Rather, citizens involved in accidents are not making claims, because it is too onerous, or because the redress available for RTA injuries is pitifully small, or there is less marketing from claimant firms.”

Maxwell Scott noted: “Meanwhile, the ABI says that motor premiums rose by 8% in the last quarter of 2022, and the average price of a new policy is at a record high. More recently, Consumer Intelligence said that premiums increased by 21% last year.

“The net impact is that victims have to live with their injuries rather than obtain justice. I leave others to question whether this state of affairs is the hallmark of a civilised society.”

Turning to other claims, Maxwell Scott noted increases in claims for medical negligence, employers liability (EL), public liability (PL) and others, between Q1 2023 and Q4 2022. Both EL and PL claims were up on a like for like basis compared the same period last year.

“All categories of claim are up except for motor injuries. Government will no doubt paint this as successful implementation of policy, while insurers will be banking the windfall from a continued reduction in injury claims costs.”