Car and van insurance premiums are rising as ever, these rises are being blamed on bigger medical bills, the impact of young and uninsured drivers and a large increase in the legal costs paid to accident lawyers.
Due to the fact that cars are safer today more passengers and drivers survive crashes, although this is often with serious injuries which increases medical costs. The combination of these contributing factors has pushed the average premium cost up to £629 over 2007, compared to £594 in 2006.
Car and van insurance prices are being pushed upwards because of, according to the industry, a 10% increase in injury claims per year. Malcolm Tarling, the spokesman of the Association of British Insurers said: “The average personal injury claim takes far too long to settle. We want to speed up payment of these claims to under six months.
“Too often lawyers are involved when there is no need. We are pushing the Government to introduce a more streamlined procedure for dealing with the smaller, simpler personal injury claims of under £25,000. We want a radical shake up.”
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