Europe
recognises Britain as Europe's whiplash capital because almost every road
accident injury receives compensation for every minor soft tissue troubles
despite some being exaggerated and fraudulent.
Soft
tissue injuries, which include whiplash, have no immediate symptoms making them
difficult to detect. However, it merits significant personal injury
compensation because it could lead to severe disabilities without treatment.
The
absence of immediate symptoms may allow fraudsters to exaggerate their claims and
gain illicit compensation.
To
combat this, UK chancellor George Osborne proposed the increasing of the small
claims court limit and abolishing all road accident "minor" soft
tissue.
With
the court's ability to pay out £5000 instead of £1000, Osborne intends to
minimise the costly damages of whiplash and other exaggerated personal injuries
from road accidents.
Several
groups, including the Select Transport Committee and the Law Society, mentioned
that victims in small claims courts will be forced to represent themselves.
Without sufficient legal advice, the proposal violates their right to justice.
Also,
several other soft tissue incidents merit a higher value of compensation.
Facial scarring from road accidents can merit more than £20,000. These include emotional
and psychological damages compensation aside from personal injury recompense.
