Government ePetition on Car Insurance

[FarmerPug]

Half the problem is that whiplash is easy to fake a symptom. Really sore neck, but no real medical test for it.

my dad gets it at accidents, no problems at all then about 30 mins after the accident they suddenly develop whiplash.
If you get whiplash isnt it your fault for not having the headrest set up right

[sirwiggum]

Half the problem is that whiplash is easy to fake a symptom. Really sore neck, but no real medical test for it.

my dad gets it at accidents, no problems at all then about 30 mins after the accident they suddenly develop whiplash.
If you get whiplash isnt it your fault for not having the headrest set up right

I don't think most people have the headrest set up right. It is just ignorance (as in not knowing). Seatbelts too should be adjusted up or down correctly on the B pillar. Perhaps it should be part of the test, after checking your mirrors and seat adjustment.

[FarmerPug]

if the headrest is set up right you shouldnt get whiplash.\

[sirwiggum]

if the headrest is set up right you shouldnt get whiplash.\

I totally agree, but like I said, I think most people don't know *how* to set their headrest, most never touch the headrests.
It is also easy to fake and lucratively profitable.

[highlander]

"Whiplash injury" is the common injury listed on crash-for-cash scams. These occur when some enterprising shite damages his brake light bulbs so they don't work anymore, then goes out in front of someone (typically on the run-up to a roundabout or something), slams the brakes on so the car behind them smashes in to the back of them and has almost no chance of avoiding the collision (which almost always mashes in the brake lights anyway, eliminating the evidence of the bulbs being broken prior to the crash).

In this kind of collision, the whiplash damage is conceivable because it's a rear shunt - the occupants of the crash-for-cash scammer's car would be thrown forward, away from the headrests, and then their body's forward momentum would be arrested by the seatbelts, causing their heads to whip forward,then back into the headrests. That's where whiplash injury could occur, and no careful adjustment of the headrests would help in any way.

Personally, I think crash-for-cash scammers need to be kneecapped and denied any disability benefits. These mangy, useless, slack-jawed, mouth-breathing mother-fuckers are essentially stealing money from everyone who legally drives a car in this country, and the practice needs to be stopped.

[Bailes1992]

Was on the motorway Monday night about 10pm, motorway was empty and it was pretty windy. I will admit I wanted to get home and was pushing on abit.
Theres 2/3 cars in the inside lane so I'm in the middle lane over taking the cars in the inside. So I see something glisten in front of me, the motorway isn't lit and is pitch black, then again I it again. Next thing I know theres a freaking Golf infront of me with so much dirt on his rear numberplate you couldn't see it and all it's rear lights were out! By the time I saw it I onily just had time to swerve and avoid it! How to people not know their rear lights are out? And why do people drive around with stinking numberplates!

[ToddM]

Or drop the unique way that cars are insured in the UK, all the rest of europe uses the car not the driver as the insured base, then with permission from the owner anybody with a license can use the car, my car for example is insured fully comp with all the xtras, glass,breakdown,replacement,legal cover, business use, full european cover, contents cover, etc etc etc on a new car worth circa 23k sterling and with zero percent discount as im new to polish insurance, it still comes out at only £1500 ish, now saying only nearly kills me but in the uk i think i would be paying a hell of a lot more based on the same criteria and vehicle.

Why does the UK insist on staying with what is basically a flawed system?
the rest of europe cant be losing money on the industry otherwise you wouldn't have all the same big names you have in the UK working over here on the continent

it would be interesting to see the profit made in the uk as opposed to the profit made in say germany or any other european state by one of the big insurers, im betting its a damn sight more in the UK

Same system in Bulgaria. I don't know how blind you Brits can get though(don't mean to offend anyone, I just think you're over-patriotic at times, thinking this can NOT happen in MY country)? You think just eastern countries' governments are corrupt? Why do you think this system hasn't fallen yet? That's right, too many people make too much money on it.

[FarmerPug]

The thing about crashing into the back of someone, the safe braking distance of some drivers is terrible it should be at least the length of a car from the car in front, i always leave a good gap between my car and the one in front so even if they slam on the brakes i can stop in good time, a lot a drivers sit bumper to bumper in 30 zones that shouldnt be allowed unless there is a traffic jam and everyone is in a queue.

[lozz]

"Whiplash injury" is the common injury listed on crash-for-cash scams. These occur when some enterprising shite damages his brake light bulbs so they don't work anymore, then goes out in front of someone (typically on the run-up to a roundabout or something), slams the brakes on so the car behind them smashes in to the back of them and has almost no chance of avoiding the collision (which almost always mashes in the brake lights anyway, eliminating the evidence of the bulbs being broken prior to the crash).

In this kind of collision, the whiplash damage is conceivable because it's a rear shunt - the occupants of the crash-for-cash scammer's car would be thrown forward, away from the headrests, and then their body's forward momentum would be arrested by the seatbelts, causing their heads to whip forward,then back into the headrests. That's where whiplash injury could occur, and no careful adjustment of the headrests would help in any way.

Personally, I think crash-for-cash scammers need to be kneecapped and denied any disability benefits. These mangy, useless, slack-jawed, mouth-breathing mother-fuckers are essentially stealing money from everyone who legally drives a car in this country, and the practice needs to be stopped.

Me and my wife was in a crash, 2 years ago, at christmas, was taking her out for a Meal, iknew iwouid be having a couple of red-stripes so iorderd a cab,
we didnt get there, we ended up in A+E as a young girl in a fiat colided with the taxi,
icouidnt walk unaided for 4mths after, the wife had sore ribs and shoulders,

we had to see a specialist , he sent out a medical report,
3mths later, igot an offer of £2k and was advised to apcet it,
the wife got £600,

if iwasnt seriously injured iwouidnt of claimed but iwas,
after that my insurance as gone sky high, so im wondering now wheter anyone whos claimed thru a 3rd partys insurance is then made to pay/suffer- at a later date, hence putting there own car insurance up,

[highlander]

People like yourself who are legitimately injured in not-at-fault crashes are made to pay more for their insurance? Shouldn't happen - you weren't taking a risk, therefore you were not to blame. Accident victims should not have to pay more money as a result of the actions of the person who caused the accident. What's fair about that?

[sirwiggum]

In fact, lozz is commendable in not taking any risks at that time in booking a taxi because he wanted to enjoy a drink. Fair play.

I don't understand why your insurance went up though.
Surely though it should go through the taxi driver's insurance? It might be his insurance going up (which in itself is not entirely fair) but as a passenger in a PSV vehicle, I don't see why it should have anything whatsoever to do with your insurance? Your car was not involved.
It shouldn't concern your insurance.

[lozz]

Thats what icarnt understand,
after iwas paid out after the claim irecieved a letter from my insurance company, at the time ihad a fiat marea, 20v 2.o
the letter said sorry we will not be able to Renew your insurance, you will have to insure it elsewhere basicly,

so ihad a month remaining after that month ihad to sell it,

insurance went from £450 -to something like £2k,

makes you wonder, wether all people who claim for whip-lash as a passenger in another vehicle, go on the Risk list on the insurance Data base REgardless of how many no-claims bonuses they have,

[highlander]

Lozz, I think someone at your insurance firm f*cked up. You can call your current insurers and ask them if there's anything on their database which suggests why your premiums are so high. I've seen you complain about your car insurance premiums here before - I'm wondering if maybe someone at your insurance company has put you as "at-fault" for that accident by mistake.

Worth finding out - if there is a genuine error, and you push the right people about it, you might end up getting that stricken from the record and find your premiums come down as a result.

[FarmerPug]

you can also do the old trick of ringing one insurance company and saying but other companies are quoting around £500 then they will try and undercut that price, ive seen that working for people.

[highlander]

This is good news:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14846666