Claims for whiplash are reaching epidemic proportions in the UK, according to recent statistics from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Their figures show that the UK is the 'whiplash capital of Europe', with 75% of motor personal injury claims being for this one injury. In the rest of Europe the figure is 40%. When you take into account the proportion of UK car drivers in comparison to continental drivers, that's a big figure.



Nearly 1,200 people every day in the UK claim for whiplash following a collision on the road. This figure has risen by a quarter in the last five years and is six times the number of workplace injury claims brought every year. According to the ABI's report "Tackling Whiplash: Prevention, Care, Compensation", over 430,000 people claimed for whiplash in 2007. These claims cost nearly £2billion a year in compensation payouts.

Treatment of whiplash costs the NHS approximately £8million a year in consultation fees. When you factor in the actual cost of treatment, this figure climbs considerably.

So is this a case of drivers 'crying wolf' because they have been encouraged to do so by 'no win, no fee' firms of solicitors? Not so, say the legal teams. Responding to the ABI's findings, the legal profession is adamant that genuine claims should be pursued to the fullest extent.

Whiplash injuries can be debilitating and extremely painful - the argument here is why shouldn't someone who has been injured through no fault of their own receive compensation? The accusations that the UK is slipping into a 'claims culture' mentality, encouraged by 'ambulance chaser' companies and blanket advertising are rife in the press, but underneath the banner waving figures and protestations lies genuine lives blighted by injury.

Whiplash is preventable, and everyone agrees that prevention is better than cure. A simple act of adjusting head restraints correctly can mean the difference in a collision between suffering a neck or shoulder injury, and walking away unscathed. To try and counter this reputation of the UK being the whiplash capital of Europe, the ABI has called on the Government to take action. Stephen Haddrill, the ABI's Director General, said:

Whiplash imposes unacceptable costs to individuals, businesses and the state. We call on the Government, road safety groups and other stakeholders to work with us on a campaign to reduce this problem.

Proposals for reducing whiplash and its effects include:

• The Government's proposed new framework for learner drivers to include emphasis on the importance of safe following distances, minimising the risk of a collision.

• Vehicle retailers to demonstrate how to correctly adjust the head restraint - See also our Correct Headrest Adjustment Guide.

• The Government to develop and implement clear guidance on how to effectively diagnose and treat whiplash.

Whiplash can cause serious injury, even at low-speed impacts. A recent case proved that, even at speeds as low as 10mph, a rear end collision could cause serious brain injuries (although admittedly cases of this extreme are rare). A genuine injury should never be swept under the carpet because you don't want to end up as another 'whiplash statistic'.

By using the skills of a specialist injury solicitor, genuine cases of whiplash can and do receive the compensation they deserve, and consequently the treatment needed to make a full recovery. A firm offering a 'no win, no fee' policy can take the sting out of making a claim, minimising your financial exposure and taking the worry out of claiming for an injury that isn't your fault. Don't let the figures or the UK's reputation as the whiplash capital of Europe frighten you out of making a genuine claim. Remember that one of the main reasons that we have so many whiplash claims in the UK is that we are such a small island with such a large population and a large number of car owners.