What changes have been made to the minor injury definition?

Since a 2012 court decision allowed for an unintended interpretation to the definition of minor injuries, claims costs increased significantly.

The government revised the definition of a minor injury so that settlements for common sprains, strains and whiplash injuries would no longer be for amounts in line with far more serious injuries. More serious injuries, such as fractures or those that have a permanent negative or life-altering impact, are not considered minor.

The insurance industry estimates that the reforms have helped reduce claims costs enough to stabilize premiums. Reforms also mean accident victims with more serious injuries have access to more of the care and benefits needed to recover.