I was in a three car shunt a couple of years ago when the car behind me was hit and pushed into mine. There was 4 people in the car none of whom were hurt. I was fully comp and claimed the damage through other car drivers. Within 2 days I was beseiged by a no win no pay solicitors in York - I live on the south coast. They badgered me for over 10 days to be in a claim for whiplash. I told them countless times that no one was injured but they virtually insisted I claim. I refused. Lots of people I guess would claim. Rich

Rose In relation to your statements: Please could you give me some advice about a whiplash injury? I have been told that you can receive a whiplash injury - just by getting out of a chair?? my reason for asking is that someone i know has "bumped" at 2 or 3mph into the back of a car and now the other driver is claiming a PI of whiplash - no damage to either car also... 1. Perhaps it's possible to get a 'whiplash injury' by just getting out of a chair. When I listened to one of the world's leading orthopaedic ergonomists, Steve Pheasant, shortly before his untimely death in 1996, he categorically said, 'You could get a back injury just picking up a pencil. For most of the weight on your vertebrae is the weight of your own upper torso. That's just how humans are designed'. 2. A simple, straightforward option for you is to reply. 'I hear what you say. If you would be so kind as to let me have a copy of the written diagnosis of an experienced orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist, I will give the matter the attention it merits'. 3. Then relax - avoid getting bored by the absence of the expert opinion you invited by finding more stimulating sources of interest and value.

Whiplash doesn't have to be from a car crash. I've had it from a skiing accident. However, getting out of a chair and getting whiplash would seem somewhat extreme as your neck would not be involved in any 'whip' type action (which is what causes the damage the head accelerating forward and back). If someone has hurt their neck getting out of the chair I would suspect that there are other factors involved. If you ask the medical profession that deal with these things they will tell you that actually those with very little damage to the car are more likely to receive a whiplash injury. Just because there are so many false claims don't disrespect the fact that whiplash is a very painful injury and one of the most common patterns is a delay of symptoms for 24-48 hrs, not immediate symptoms.

Despite your personal experience Nick, actually bracing yourself makes it worse usually. Tight muscles are more prone to damage than loose muscles. Seat belts save lives but are the reason for the increase in whiplash injuries at low speed (so I'm led to believe) because it is just your neck that over extends and then whips back instead of the whole body being thrown forward and then back.