The Ministry of Justice has launched a post-implementation review of the Whiplash Reform Programme that was implemented on 31st May 2021 and has issued a call for evidence with an eight-week window and a deadline of 22nd December.

The reforms led to an overhaul of how personal injury claims are handled and the creation of the Official Injury Claim portal. Earlier this year, the government committed to start a post-implementation review of the Whiplash Reform Programme.

Announcing the review, The Ministry of Justice stated: “This review will assess the Whiplash Reform Programme’s effectiveness in achieving its stated aims of reducing the high number and cost of whiplash claims along with other related issues such as disincentivising unmeritorious whiplash claims, ensuring proportionate payment for whiplash injuries, maintaining access to justice and improving claimant choice.”

The call for evidence is seeking views on a range of topics such as the ability of the whiplash definition to capture all relevant claims, the ease with which claimants can access justice and the impact of the reforms on unmeritorious claims.