Why Swansea is the car claim capital of the UK?

Swansea, Wales' second city and home to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), has been named in a recent report as the UK's leading location for car insurance claims. The claim, which has angered many local people, was made in a survey that found the SA4 postcode area produces more insurance claims per head of population than any other area in the UK, according to Virgin Money.

This doesn't mean that the standard of driving is any less in this part of the country, but the statistics showed that the chances of being involved in an accident are slightly higher than elsewhere. To counter the accusation, the company also reported that according to a survey carried out in June 2008, Swansea was rated 24th out of the 50 biggest towns and cities in the UK as being 'driver friendly'.

Leyton in east London and Widnes in Cheshire were joint second in the survey of claims black spots. Research found that drivers in southeast England make 17% of all claims while Scotland accounts for just 4% of accident claims.

The data produced by Virgin Money didn't just include accident claims, but also claims for having a car stolen or vandalised and those who were the victims of theft from vehicles. Many of the accident claims were for the effects of whiplash, as vehicles were involved in low speed, rear impact collisions.
Whiplash claims are the most common form of motoring accident claim in the UK, accounting for £1.9billion in insurance payouts annually. It is the common name given to an injury caused by a sudden jolt or movement to the body or head, causing damage to the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the neck. Whiplash causes pain, stiffness and loss of movement initially, but can lead to other symptoms as the swelling increases.
The survey proves that drivers cannot afford to be complacent, wherever they live. Low speed collisions are far more likely to occur in slow moving, urban traffic than on more rural roads, and the fact that the top three areas for insurance claims are all urban areas adds weight to this. The sheer volume of traffic on urban roads makes the likelihood of a vehicle accident statistically much more likely, regardless of individual driving ability. The urban driving experience is also fraught with hazards, causing vehicles to break suddenly to avoid pedestrians stepping out onto roads, for example, or to avoid hitting cyclists. Specialist claims solicitors deal with thousands of cases claiming compensation for whiplash and other minor injuries every year, and Britain has the unenviable reputation as the 'Whiplash capital of Europe'.

Specialist claims solicitors can advise you on your rights to compensation if you feel that you have been injured due to someone else's negligence or poor driving. Not only will they be able to advise you on your claim; they also have access to specialist medical experts who can assess the possibility of any long-term effects of whiplash. Whether you live in Swansea or in a different part of the country, you are still at risk of being involved in accidents that are not your fault. Taking decisive action in the event of an accident by pursuing a justified claim for compensation may add to the statistics, but it is every person's right to be compensated for an injury that is not their fault.