[Si Coe]

True, except that my mother is a GP, and has told many a patient they are perfectly well only for some solicitors tame doctor proclaim they have whiplash. She is actually due in court in a few weeks time as in expert witness in just such a case.

If you tell the ambulance chasers you were hit, they'll find you a doctor who'll provide 'medical evidence', for the right cut of the profits.

Actually whiplash claims are even worse than that. Because they are so common these days insurers just expect you to take them. My wife was involved in an accident a few years ago where she was hit by a speeding driver who then bounced off her car and smashed into someone else. The police came, so it was all properly logged. Then the woman in the 3rd car started claiming for a broken wrist (which she hadn't noticed at the time, but realised 3 days later after catching a ball!) and it all got silly. Even now, 3 years on my wifes insurers keep ringing and asking if she suffered any injuries in that accident (she hadn't, so said she hadn't) because they'd already set aside £10K for her claim. So now insurers expect you to make a fuss!