According to Fraser Fundell from IDSL the MOJ reforms will have a direct impact on self-insured organisations with large fleets.

Previously insurers and self insured firms had between 60 and 90 days to accept or deny liability for such personal injury claims – under the new regulations, this timeframe has been reduced to just 15 working days as of 30 April, and there will be three defined stages through which a claim progresses.

Claimant lawyers, insurers and compensators have worked in collaboration to develop and implement an electronic portal to support the processes agreed in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice to enable faster agreement on liability and payment of low cost RTA injury claims.

The portal will provide the swift, electronic exchange of all relevant claim information and related documentation – including medical records – between lawyers and insurers, self insured/compensators and will enable the key decisions to be communicated more quickly and reduce duplication. This will enable the insurer, self insureds and compensator to agree settlement more swiftly.

Mark Bromhall, Accident Management Centre Manager at Royal Mail comments: "As a self insured organisation dealing with road traffic accident related claims valued between £1,000 and £10,000, Royal Mail has registered to use the electronic portal that supports the new Ministry of Justice process by providing a swift, secure platform for the electronic exchange of claims related documentation between claimant lawyers and insurers.  Royal Mail has been actively familiarizing and training staff over the last couple of weeks and is ready to work towards the new designated time scales which come into effect on 30th April."

The portal is available for processing live claims, with registration and use being managed by IDSL.

To register and find information on the ways to access the portal, please visit http://www.rtapiclaimsprocess.org.uk/how_to_sign_up.html