The 2021 Whiplash Reforms are a raft of changes to the law concerning personal injury claims for road traffic accidents. The changes unashamedly favour motor insurance companies: reducing compensation awards and abolishing the chance to recover legal costs in the majority of road traffic accident claims.

To help you understand these reforms – and what they could mean for you – we’ve put together this guide.

Will my claim be affected by the 2021 Whiplash Reforms?

Your claim will be affected if you meet all of the following conditions:

You are over 18. You were injured in a road traffic accident. The accident occurred on or after 31st May 2021. You suffered whiplash injuries (see ‘What counts as a ‘whiplash injury’?’ below). You were a driver or passenger of a motor vehicle (this does not include motorbikes and scooters). Your injuries are worth less than £5,000 and the total value of your claim is less than £10,000 (see ‘How do I know if my injuries are worth less than £5,000 or not?’ below).