More motorists claiming for whiplash

Rising numbers of people making personal injury claims is putting increasing pressure on the motor insurance industry.

The Association of British Insurers has published a report showing that 1,200 people claim on a car insurance policy on a daily basis due to a whiplash injury, an increase of 25 per cent over the past five years.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, who contributed to the report, said that the added claims are making it tougher for people to get cheap car insurance cover.

He explained: "The cost of whiplash claims equates to about £66 for every UK car insurance policy, or about 14 per cent of the average Shoparound car insurance premium. This is more than twice the cost of claims for accidents with uninsured drivers.

"Over the past year, the average quoted Shoparound premium for a comprehensive car insurance policy increased by 8.7 per cent and whiplash injury will become an increasingly important factor in future premium increases."

President of the AA, Edmund King, added that motorists could avoid suffering from whiplash injuries by adjusting their head rests and by maintaining a safe distance behind a vehicle travelling ahead.

According to the latest figures from the AA's benchmark British Insurance Premium Index, the average comprehensive car insurance now costs a motorist £724.28.

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