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UK dubbed ‘whiplash capital’ of Europe
Friday, 3 June 2011
The United Kingdom has been dubbed the ‘whiplash capital’ of Europe due to a continuing number of fraudulent car insurance claims.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) revealed that one in 140 motorists on Britain’s roads claims for a whiplash-related injury each year. However, insurers are calling for a crackdown on fraudulent claims from drivers who feign injuries to receive an insurance pay-out.
The cost of a car insurance premium has risen 40 per cent during the last 12 months alone and the ABI insists the advent of claims management firms and staged ‘cash for crash’ incidents were driving up the number of needless claims and wasting time and money of insurers.
A staggering three-quarters of all personal injury claims in the UK are for whiplash and its awkward diagnosis has enabled fraudsters to take exaggerate such neck and back injuries.
Adrian Webb, head of communications at esure, said: “Whiplash claims have reached epidemic proportions in Britain despite safer cars and roads, less serious accidents being recorded and hospitals are treating less people.
“These injuries are hard to disprove and, unfortunately, many have realised this and use it to take advantage of the insurance system. Their gain is everyone’s loss as it inevitably drives premiums higher for everyone.”
The ABI is calling on insurers, doctors and lawyers to work together to implement credible medical guidance on how best to diagnose legitimate whiplash.
ASM Auto Recycling retrieves numerous salvage vehicles involved in accidents on the nation’s highways each year. While many vehicle owners simply don’t have the time or money to renovate damage-repairable cars, there are many enthusiasts that visit online salvage auctions each week to find a bargain.
These damage-repairable models are available at a fraction of the cost of a brand new car straight from the showroom and if you have the experience and perseverance to transform it into working order you can make a handsome profit in the process.
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