The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed that its members pay out £2bn in whiplash injury claims every year; equating to almost 1,200 claims every day.
The ABI's report hails the UK as the "whiplash capital" of Europe, stating that 75 percent of all car accident related claims are for whiplash.
More than 430,000 people claimed for whiplash injury in 2007, representing a 25 per cent increase over the previous five years.
The president of the AA, Edmund King, commented that many whiplash accidents and injuries were preventable.
"Drivers and passengers can help prevent themselves becoming victims of whiplash by adjusting head restraints before they drive off.
"The top of the head restraint should be level with the top of the driver's head, while the back of the head should be as close as possible to, and ideally touching, the restraint.
"Drivers can avoid inflicting whiplash on themselves and others by keeping a safe distance - at least two seconds - from the vehicle ahead."
Director General of the ABI Stephen Haddril described whiplash injury as an "epidemic" producing "unacceptable costs" for the state, individuals, and businesses.
*A replacement vehicle can usually be supplied within 4-6 working hours, where there is an admission of liability from the other person’s insurance company. If this person is not known, their insurance details are not known, they are uninsured or there is a potential dispute over who caused the accident, a replacement vehicle cannot be provided.
