Personal Injury Update – Civil Liability Act delayed until April 2021

The Ministry of Justice yesterday announced that the implementation of the Civil Liability Act along with the associated whiplash reforms will now be delayed until April 2021. The statement confirms that ‘While the whiplash reform measures remain important, the Government is committed to acting to ease the disruption and pressures caused by the Covid-19 outbreak where it can.’

The planned implementation of the new protocol and practice direction has already been delayed twice from the original implementation date of 6 April 2020 to 1 August 2020, due to deferred consideration from the CPRC on the rules in February and now again, until April 2021 due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

It has been advised that the decision was made to enable key sectors of the UK’s business to focus their on delivering their response to Covid-19 which has had an unprecedented impact on the medical, legal and insurance sectors. The delay will also allow the Government to focus on delivering key services in the justice area during this difficult time.

The Whiplash reforms, when implemented, will increase the small claims track limit for Road Traffic Accident related personal injury claims from £1,000 to £5,000, as well as introducing a fixed tariff of damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity for whiplash injuries. It will also introduce a ban on the making or accepting of offers to settle a whiplash claim without a medical report (pre-medical offers).

The full statement can be found here.

You can find out more information on the proposed Whiplash Reforms in our blogs below:

• Personal Injury Update Further Delay for Whiplash Rules
• Minors and Protected Parties Exempt to Whiplash Reform Portal

If you have sustained a whiplash personal injury, please contact our expert Personal Injury Solicitors on 01202 057738 or contact Kirsty.Handyside@ellisjones.co.uk.