RTA PI Claims Process – Electronic Portal Benefits

Claimant lawyers and insurers/compensators have worked together to develop and implement the electronic communications portal to support the RTA PI Claims process reforms which came into effect on 30th April 2010. The enhanced process has the potential to positively benefit the majority of all motor personal injury claimants amounting to some 500,000 people and delivers significant benefits to all relevant parties:

• The swift, electronic exchange of all relevant claim information and related documentation between lawyers and insurers/ compensators - including medical reports – will enable key decisions to be communicated more quickly and reduce duplication.
• A streamlined flow of agreed information on both liability and quantum between parties will enable therefore helping to reduce operational costs and enable the insurer/compensator to agree settlement more quickly.
• New timelines built into the process will speed up with liability decisions and eventual agreement on quantum.
  [see MOJ guidelines]
• Through the use of standardised input forms, lawyers are likely to reduce processing time for each claim handled.
• Users have the option of a web browser interface whereby they only require access to the internet using standard browser software such as Internet Explorer (version 6 or above), Mozilla Firefox or Opera. Alternatively, users can create an ‘extract and import’ programmes to interface to their own in-house system to send and receive XML messages via the electronic portal.
• The system will include validation checks on claims information to ensure that all required data is forwarded between parties.
• The electronic communications portal is being developed by a highly trusted and experienced technology partner for maximum performance and security and to meet the Information Commissioner recommendations for secure transmission of electronic messages. CRIF Decision Solutions Ltd (CRIF), a company known for providing decisioning solutions to financial services companies, was selected by a panel of claimant lawyers and insurers/compensators following a process which reviewed 15 responses to Invitation to Tender.
• Minimal system training is envisaged and where necessary, is more likely to focus on in-house workflow processes.
• Claimant lawyers using the web browser will be able to save partial information prior to sending full details to insurer/compensator enabling secure storing of data before completion.