Lancashire doctor hits back over false whiplash claims (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Lancashire doctor hits back over false whiplash claims
6:00am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Health
A LANCASHIRE doctor has hit back at suggestions medical professionals could do more to detect false whiplash claims.
The Transport Select Committee’s 12th motor insurance report, published last week, supported claims made by Blackburn MP Jack Straw that insurance companies selling on clients’ details to personal injury firms were to blame for rocketing motor insurance premiums in East Lancashire.
Mr Straw’s campaign, most of which was supported by the committee, calls for referral fees to be outlawed; the no-win-no-fee system overhauled; the law on whiplash damages changed to require a stricter burden of proof; a clampdown on the trade in personal data; and tighter regulations of claims companies.
Dr Simon Margolis, chief executive officer of Premex Group, which manages a panel of 4,500 medical experts, said the report had failed to acknowledge how the modern delivery of expert medical evidence is carried out.
He said: “I believe our panel of experts would appreciate the opportunity to challenge suggestions which question their integrity.
“There is no blood test, or imaging modality, currently in existence that can prove, or disprove, an injury was sustained, or whether symptoms are being experienced.
“That is why a combination of the taking of a history, and the laying on of hands during clinical examination by a medical expert, remains the appropriate approach.
“Much can be learned from the general demeanour of the claimant and the way the history is delivered.”
Comments(7)
Izanears
says...
10:13am Wed 1 Feb 12
In the Daily Mail last week was report about a Physiopherapist who accused of causing whiplash when parking his car, he slowly reversed into a Taxi. On inspecting the vehicles there was no visible damage to either of them. Weeks later he was hit with a claim for whiplash and £800 worth of damge to the car. Using his physio knowlege he challenged itand won. The Taxi driver was heavily fined. I would suggest that the insurance companies and 'us' should do this as well. Far too many people are getting away with this scam.
Jack Herer
says...
8:21pm Wed 1 Feb 12
"Dr Simon Margolis, chief executive officer of Premex Group, which manages a panel of 4,500 medical experts, said the report had failed to acknowledge how the modern delivery of expert medical evidence is carried out."
Dr Simon Margolis, do you perchance make an absolute fr1gging fortune from the current scam for cash system which is rife? If you do then I suspect that's why you are saying there is no problem at the moment.
Motorists that pay sky high insurance costs, who watch other people blantantly ripping off the system, would say otherwise.
Jack Herer
says...
8:21pm Wed 1 Feb 12
"Dr Simon Margolis, chief executive officer of Premex Group, which manages a panel of 4,500 medical experts, said the report had failed to acknowledge how the modern delivery of expert medical evidence is carried out."
Dr Simon Margolis, do you perchance make an absolute fr1gging fortune from the current scam for cash system which is rife? If you do then I suspect that's why you are saying there is no problem at the moment.
Motorists that pay sky high insurance costs, who watch other people blantantly ripping off the system, would say otherwise.
lifeaware
says...
9:23am Thu 16 Feb 12
They are very clever in their marketing and endeavour to claim integrity. They have developed a fine tuned word processed report for injury claim doctors, for incorporation of the words of the claimant on how the accident happened and how they feel. However, even Premex state that whiplash injury cannot be proved.
One should not underestimate the ability of these slick and intelligent people to adapt and to present a case in defence of their easy and lucrative business.
In my case after a bump at 2 mph resulting in a slightly dented rear bumper on an old car, the other motorist suggested to me not going through insurance. Two weeks later the motorist asked me to give £200 for repairs. There was no mention of whiplash injury.
Eight months later I unexpectedly received a County Court pack naming me as the defendant in a claim for whiplash injury and psychological damage.
More should be made of the distress caused to innocent motorists as an added argument for overdue reform.
Lancashirechick
says...
3:07pm Fri 17 Feb 12
SHOCKING!!!
lifeaware
says...
4:37pm Fri 17 Feb 12
fabinribblevalley says...
7:30am Wed 1 Feb 12