Civil Liability Bill passes into law

The Civil Liability Bill has finally been signed into law.

The whiplash reform legislation received royal assent today, following the completion of its journey through Parliament in November.

Justice minister David Gauke counted the Civil Liability Bill among three new pieces of legislation to enter into law today that will help to deliver “a fair, efficient justice system that puts the people who use it first”.

“Days like today show that—despite the current squeeze on parliamentary time—this is a department getting on with business as usual and delivering real change.”

Commenting on royal assent being granted for the Civil Liability Bill, which means it now enters law as the Civil Liability Act, James Dalton, director of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers, said: “The measures within the Civil Liability Act will deliver a more proportionate approach to whiplash claims and create a fairer system for claimants, insurance customers and taxpayers. The ABI has worked hard with politicians, civil servants and wider stakeholders to see these reforms through and it is great to end the year with royal assent.”

“The clock is now ticking on the first review of the Discount Rate and we will keep the pressure on to have a new rate set as quickly as possible, and to support the introduction of the new claims portal.”

The Civil Liability Bill has been a long-time coming. Here are the headlines from 2018:

Bill passes Lords as ABI Motor Conference speakers debate its effect

Bill passes final test in House of Commons

Accelerating towards a fairer future

Bill will mean ‘more reasonable’ pricing

Amendments tweak rather than rework

Bill suffers from ‘flaws in logic’

Bill returns to House of Commons

Putting the brakes on the Civil Liability Bill

Vulnerable road users to be exempt

Turn down that racket: House of Lords on the Civil Liability Bill

APIL president criticises saving pledge

Insurers sign pledge to pass on savings

Bill draws claimants’ ire

Mark Dugdale