Increase in Whiplash Injuries reported by the Association of British Insurers

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has released a report, “Tackling Whiplash: Prevention, Care, Compensation”, which highlights that every day nearly 1,200 people claim for a whiplash injury after a car accident, a figure that has risen by a quarter in the last five years. The report also includes statistics which show that:-

• Over 430,000 people made a personal injury claim for a whiplash injury in 2007;

• Treating whiplash injuries costs the NHS approximately £8 million a year;

• In the UK 75% of personal injury claims after a road traffic accident are for whiplash injuries.

Reasons for the rise in whiplash injuries include motorists tailgating the car in front and incorrectly adjusted head restraints. Proposals for reducing whiplash injuries include emphasising the importance of safe following distances to learner drivers, retailers should demonstrate how to correctly adjust the head restraints when selling vehicles and for the government to develop clear guidance on how to effectively diagnose and treat whiplash.

If you have suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident that was not your fault, please contact Lawson-West on 0116 212 1000 now, complete one of the on-line forms or text ‘accident’ to 07968 888857 and we’ll call you back.