The legal profession has seen a dramatic rise in the number of people attempting to claim compensation from invented or exaggerated car accident injuries.
Research shows that 57% of all accident claim solicitors have noticed an increase in the number of prospective clients faking their injuries in order to make a compensation claim.
Four in ten have reported a surge in suspicious cases since the recession began.
Over half of the solicitors who have encountered suspect personal injury claims say they are most likely to involve a car accident, with whiplash the most frequently exaggerated injury, accounting for 46% of all exaggerated claims.
More than half of the solicitors questioned now scrutinise clients' stories very closely before deciding whether to take on a case.
One personal injury solicitor said, "Genuine cases of personal injury where another person or company is at fault are certainly cause for compensation. However drivers who invent or exaggerate their injuries to make a claim not only break the law but also push up the cost of car insurance premiums for all motorists."
More than eight out of ten solicitors said most claimants overestimate how much money they will be able to make a car accident claim for.
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