A.M. Best Places Medmarc's Rating Under Review With Positive Implications

Medmarc announced yesterday that it is to become part of ProAssurance, a $5-billion dollar organization with an A.M. Best rating of "A." Shortly thereafter, A.M. Best issued a Press Release on the likely effect of this merger on Medmarc's own rating, stating. "A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with positive implications the financial strength of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of 'a-' of Medmarc Casualty Insurance Company and Noetic Specialty Insurance Company." The Release further states that "the positive implications reflect the potentially positive impact for Medmarc Group should it become a member of the ProAssurance organization in the future."

Click here to read the full Press Release from A.M. Best.

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Whiplash under spotlight as MPs launch second inquiry

Whiplash claims have spiralled to 550,000 a year in Britain, even though road accidents have dropped. Up to £2,500 of every claim goes to lawyers and claims management companies, insurers say. Photograph: Alamy

MPs are launching a new investigation into how to cut the number of whiplash claims, to make car insurance cheaper. The Transport Committee is calling for evidence on how whiplash costs – which add around £90 to every motor premium – can be reduced.

But the committee was criticised for launching its investigation at the same time as a previous government inquiry into whiplash is about to be published.

The Transport Committee called Britain "the whiplash capital of the world" and said it wants to establish what proportion of costs are caused by people faking their injuries – whiplash is notoriously difficult for GPs to diagnose. MPs will also look at the likely impact that clamping down on exaggerated claims would have on people who are genuinely injured.

The number of whiplash claims has spiralled to around 550,000 a year, or 1,500 a day, landing insurers with a compensation bill of £2bn. Insurers argue that much of the money – up to £2,500 for every whiplash claim – is wasted on legal fees and payments to claims management companies.

Britain's whiplash industry is now pushing up the cost of the average motor insurance policy by a staggering 20%, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). From 2005 to 2010, whiplash claims soared by 70%, even though road traffic accidents fell by 23%.

Louise Ellman, chair of the Transport Committee, said: "It is vitally important for policymakers to understand the reasons for the very high cost of motor insurance, especially for young drivers, and to take steps to bring that cost down. Whiplash claims undoubtedly play a part in driving up the cost of motor insurance, but access to justice for injured people must be preserved."

But Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, questioned the timing of the Transport Committee's investigation, coming just as a previous government inquiry into whiplash has ended. He said: "It seems odd that it has taken a year to announce this inquiry, at a time when a separate Justice Ministry inquiry appears to have covered similar ground.

"While there is clearly a need to bring the escalating number of often-spurious claims under control, there are steps that could usefully help – for example, fixed rates of compensation and a proportion of claims payment withheld and paid direct for treatment, such as physiotherapy. Similarly, historic claims should reflect the cost of treatment that sufferers have, or should have, undertaken."

The AA favours the system used in Germany and Austria, where collisions below a certain speed (assessed by expert analysis of vehicle damage) are deemed to be too low to result in whiplash injury – around 70% of road accident personal injury claims are for whiplash in the UK, compared with 47% in Germany.

Earlier this week, insurers called for people making a whiplash claim to be forced to undergo medical examinations by independently-appointed experts to cure the UK's "epidemic" of cases. The ABI wants to see all whiplash cases dealt with by medical professionals who have been accredited by a special board in order to curb the flow of claims.

The organisation added that anyone whose whiplash claim turns out to be even partly exaggerated should automatically have their whole case thrown out.

James Dalton, assistant director of motor and liability for the ABI said: "Whiplash has come to mean 'whipcash' for too many people, with all motorists paying the price through higher motor premiums. Our 'have a go' compensation culture makes whiplash the fraud of choice for too many.

"Our proposals to curb the UK's whiplash epidemic will ensure that claimants are independently assessed, compensation paid to genuine claimants more quickly, and deter anyone who thinks that claiming whiplash is free money waiting to be collected."

The Transport Committee will look at whether the government could be taking further action to reduce the cost of car insurance and wants written submissions by 15 April.

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'Seatbelt under the bump' pregnant drivers told

Driving while pregnant can be awkward due to the baby bump. Motoring writer Maria McCarthy looks at how mums-to-be can remain comfortable behind the wheel.

Pregnancy is a very special time, but of course women also want to carry on with their everyday activities as much as possible.

And for most, that includes driving.

"Pregnancy affects women in very different ways," says registered midwife Denise Linay.

"Some breeze through it, have no difficulties and are comfortable driving until the day they deliver.

"But others face problems such as severe morning sickness which means it's not safe for them to drive at certain times.

"It's best for them to adapt as they go along and take advice from their midwife on any specific health concerns."

One aspect of pregnancy that's going to affect all expectant mothers is developing a baby bump.

This means the seatbelt will have to be positioned differently as incorrect use can harm the baby in the event of a collision. 

"The key advice is 'belt under the bump, not across the middle'," says Neil Grieg, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

"The belt should be placed flat across the thighs and tight up against the hip bones with the cross belt between the breasts."

Grieg adds that expectant mothers should resist the temptation to drive without wearing a seatbelt.

"In the event of an accident, the woman is far more likely to die by being ejected from a vehicle or hitting the inside of the car than be injured by the belt itself," Grieg explains.

The UK government road safety campaign has produced a free, downloadable leaflet, entitled Buckle up for Baby and You.

It has illustrations of the correct way that the seatbelt should be worn during pregnancy. 

It is possible to buy seatbelts specifically adapted for use by pregnant women.

There's the Clippasafe Advanced Bump Belt at £24.99 or the piXie Pregnancy Seatbelt Harness at £159.95, among others.

But midwife Linay believes that most women will be fine using the regular seatbelt.

She says: "Pregnancy and having a new baby can be an expensive time, and there's no need to spend extra money on extra items that you might not get much use out of."

Some mums-to-be suffer with morning sickness, but during the parts of the day when the expectant mother feels fine there is no reason why she should not drive.

However, it's important not to do so when in the grip of nausea, or when the expectant mother has reason to believe she'll feel unwell during the journey.

"If anything is going to be distracting then it's best not to get behind the wheel," says Linay.

"I know that this can be very difficult, especially for women who need to get to work or have other children to take to school, but safety always has to take priority."

As the mum-to-be gets bigger she might want to move the car seat back and that is fine as long as the mirrors are adjusted accordingly and she can still reach the pedals.

"The vast majority of women remain flexible enough to turn in their seat to do manoeuvres and can climb in and out of the car without difficulty," says Greig.

"But if it does start to be a struggle then it's advisable to stop driving."

Swollen ankles and leg cramps can be additional symptoms of pregnancy, and if they cause discomfort when driving then it's best to confine motoring to short trips or stop altogether.

Finally, keeping the car well-maintained is especially important for expectant mums.

A car breakdown would be even more inconvenient than usual when pregnant, and of course it's important to do everything possible to avoid accidents.

We're here to help! Watch our short video guide on basic car maintenance to help you keep your vehicle in tip-top condition.

 
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8 Tropical Treats Under 80 Calories

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1 of 978 calories

Your carefree summer won't have consequences with these island-inspired indulgences.

13 pieces Mike & Ike Tropical Typhoon Candies

Next: 38 calories

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8 Festive Treats Under 80 Calories

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8 Poolside Treats Under 80 Calories

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Breyers Pure Fruit Pomegranate Blends Mango fruit bar

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8 Game-Day Snacks Under 80 Calories

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When journalism comes under fire

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Earlier this month, my colleagues Paul Wood, Fred Scott and Kevin Sweeney were smuggled into Syria.

The BBC's Abdullah Ghorab was attacked in Yemen

Their reports made headlines around the world - they were the only international news team in Homs as President Assad's forces began bombarding the city.

Last week, a remarkable documentary on the World Service captured the courage and commitment needed to bring such stories to international attention. But too many in our profession pay a heavy price.

During 2011, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says 46 journalists lost their lives, covering conflicts from Pakistan to Somalia, Mexico to Libya.

Tragically, 2012 is already on course to outstrip that grim toll: a further six journalists have been killed in the first six weeks of this year.

We can never eliminate the risk of operating in places like Libya or Syria - only try to manage it to an acceptable level.

But in their annual report published today, the CPJ warns of a new risk - one that is more difficult to manage. It suggests regimes are finding new ways to censor the media and silence dissent.

During the uprisings across the Arab World, the internet has been a vital newsgathering tool.

Twitter and Facebook have been a source of information and video in places like Bahrain and Yemen, as well as Libya and Syria where the authorities have refused to allow access to the international media. But censorship is still alive and well.

In Homs, it became clear that the Syrian military were trying to jam our satellite equipment to prevent us reporting from the besieged city.

Earlier this month, we revealed how the Iranian government was trying to intimidate colleagues working for the BBC's Persian Service outside Iran by targeting family members who still live inside the country.

Passports of family members have been confiscated, preventing them from leaving Iran. Some of my colleagues have had their Facebook and email accounts hacked.

Ten days ago BBC Arabic reporter Abdullah Ghorab was attacked in Yemen, by a gang thought to be supporters of the outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh. His two brothers, who were with him, were badly beaten.

It was the third time Ghorab had been assaulted in Yemen, and he's also been verbally attacked by the country's deputy information minister.

Today, the CPJ warns that regimes may try to crack down further, precisely because they fear their ability to control the flow of information is weakening.

A year ago in Libya - two days after the start of the uprising that would bring down Colonel Gaddafi - an internet TV station started webcasting from Benghazi.

Long before international reporters made it to Libya, Alhurra TV (Free TV) was streaming footage online, allowing the world to see what was going on inside the country.

The authorities tried to shut down the internet to silence the station but, thanks to the ingenuity of its founder Mo Nabbous and his colleagues, government blocks were bypassed and the webcast was able to continue.

A month later, Nabbous was dead - killed by pro-Gaddafi troops in the battle for Benghazi.

A year on, those in Syria are following in Nabbous's footsteps. In Homs, activists have been using the Swedish website Bambuser to live stream pictures from inside the besieged city.

On Friday, the company said the Syrian government had blocked the site, a day after it broadcast images of an oil pipeline that campaigners claimed had been bombed by the Syrian military.

The CPJ is calling for the creation of a worldwide coalition against censorship made up of pressure groups, governments and businesses.

It's not just the BBC that faces difficulties - and not just Syria and Iran where we have problems. The internet has enabled millions to communicate more openly.

But that new-found freedom cannot be taken for granted.

Jon Williams is the BBC World News editor.

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