UK is the whiplash “capital of the world”

Research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) shows badly-fitted head restraints and increased tailgating are the main reasons for a 25 percent rise whiplash injuries over the past five years

Claims for motor accident whiplash injuries are now costing the insurance industry almost £2 billion a year in compensation.

The ABI said more than 430,000 people claimed for whiplash in 2007. It added treating whiplash injuries costs the NHS £8 million a year and that 75 percent of motor personal injury claims are for whiplash, compared to 40 percent in the rest of Europe.

The whiplash injury is caused by the movement of a person in a road traffic accident, restrained by a seatbelt, and being thrown rapidly forward and backwards (like the cracking of a whip). They first became prevelent when seat belt legislaion was introduced into the UK.

There are a multitude of factors which affect the severity of the injury, such as the weight or the position of the person in the car, the position of the head restraints and the impact of a crash.