There has been some speculation that the lower casualties are a result of the current economic climate; with high petrol prices, there are less cars on British roads. This could also explain the rise in personal injury claims, with some people resorting to their accidents for financial gain.

The director of AA Insurance, Simon Douglas, has stated that these figures suggest that “those involved in accidents are much more inclined to make personal injury claims, even for non-serious injuries such as minor whiplash cured by painkillers over a couple of days.”

Last year, there were on average 1,300 whiplash claims each day. It can only be expected that personal injury claims will be significantly higher for this year.

Andrew Singh, 26, his parents and dozens of relatives lodged compensation claims against a Bury-based coach company. One of the coaches they were travelling in was involved in a collision with another vehicle en route to Mr Singh’s wedding in Preston, Lancashire in July 2004. Later another coach they had hired clipped a wall in a car park. Altogether 73 personal injury claims were made, with claimants seeking damages against Hollins Travel for whiplash and other injuries.

However the claim soon began to unravel after video footage from the wedding reception – which went ahead unaffected later that day – revealed many of the supposed sufferers celebrating and dancing.

Tony, the best man, claimed to have badly hurt his wrist in the road accident, but was seen in the video clapping along to music. Mr Singh’s mother had testified that she had suffered a painful injury to her shoulder, but was caught on camera dancing and lifting her arms in the air. The video also showed footage of the groom dancing, waving his arms around and at one point being carried aloft by some of the other guests.

When it transpired that Mr Singh and his father were not even riding in the first coach that crashed, the judge threw out their claims and a criminal investigation was launched.

Mr Singh and his parents, all of Manchester, eventually pleaded guilty to committing perjury and conspiracy to defraud. They each face one year in jail and over £70,000 in costs. Judge David Heaton QC said that he wanted the sentence to act as a deterrent to other potential fraudsters.

“Offences of this type are far too serious to warrant anything other than an immediate custodial sentence,” he said. “Insurance companies in this country are highly vulnerable to the making of fraudulent claims.”

It also emerged that Mr Singh’s bride has subsequently left him after giving evidence against him at the trial.

According to research carried out by More Than, the UK insurance group, 41 per cent of British drivers have never heard of this particular criminal act, which sees fraudsters intentionally causing car crashes in order to claim insurance, often claiming whiplash compensation.

Although it is widely believed that fraudulent claims such as these are currently on the rise in the country due to the on-going recession, the research discovered that over the last two years, incidents have dropped by 11 per cent, mainly as a result of insurance companies and the police making an effort to crack down on the fraudsters.

However, Pete Markey, a spokesperson for More Than, thinks that more people need to make themselves aware of the scam. “If more drivers were made aware of the dangers they are facing, it becomes more likely that they will be able to report anything unusual to their insurance company.”

The research also found that of those involved with such a crash, two-thirds did not realise that it was staged and a further third would not know what to do in such a situation anyway.

If you are involved in a road accident and believe that it could be an attempt of a ‘crash for cash’ scam, you should get in touch with your insurance company immediately and alert them of your suspicions. Not only will they then have your side of the story on file but they will be more prepared to look out for anything out of the ordinary.

Also, in addition to exchanging insurance details with the driver, try to make a note of how many passengers are in their car. For example, if it is a fraudulent claim, they may be claiming whiplash compensation for themselves and three passengers, when they may have only had one passenger when the road accident took place. This will help you to protect yourself from any phantom passenger claims, which could otherwise increase the claim being made against your insurance.

Lastly, this scam can be avoided with safe, careful driving. Always keep a safe braking distance from the car in front, as you will always be liable if they brake suddenly causing you to hit them in the rear, even if you argue that there was nothing causing them to brake. Don’t help them out by driving too close to them, as the fraudsters will be on the lookout for distracted drivers or those who are driving close behind them in the first place.

Sally Price, a lifelong fan of the 64-year-old singer, was struck by a football that Stewart had kicked towards the audience at the Point Depot concert. A tradition that the rocker has been doing at his concerts for over 30 years, Stewart kicked dozens of autographed footballs into the crowd, much to the delight of his fans.

The court heard that on this occasion, Stewart miskicked one of the balls, which hit the rigging above the stage at the venue and then came down on the fan’s head at such a pace that it knocked her over and left her feeling dazed for some time. Judge Jacqueline Linnane at the Circuit Civil Court awarded the sum to her after hearing that she continues to suffer whiplash-like injuries years after the incident took place, right into the present.

The concert promoters, MCD Promotions Ltd of Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, were slapped with the bill after the judge decided that the claimant had suffered concussion as a result of the incident.

The singer’s management team gave her four autographed footballs as an apology, two of which she gave to the doctor who treated her. Stewart, who is a keen Celtic supporter and who once trained as a professional footballer, also met with Mrs Price.

“I have always been a fan of his music and the singer came down to see me as I was being treated,” she said. “I would have been so pleased to have met him on a happier occasion.”

Hugh O’Keeffe, counsel for Mrs Price, told the court that such a reckless act could have been avoided and that the potential danger of the entertainer’s actions were foreseeable, leaving the concert promoters liable in negligence for the whiplash-like injuries to Mrs Price’s neck and shoulders.

Michael Adams, of St Albans, believes he was forced into driving into the back of a car by two conmen who were working together in separate cars.

Whilst driving on a roundabout he saw two cars which he states “appeared to be dithering around”.

When behind one of the vehicles it quickly slammed its brakes on, meaning that Mr Adams could not avoid hitting it as the other car was positioned to take up the only space that could have been used to swerve around the first car.

Mr Adams said: “The man got out of his car and when I asked him why he stopped he said the car in front had braked. The man claimed he did not speak English even though he wrote his name and address for Mr Adams.”

Within a matter of days there were three separate personal injury claims that had been lodged by the first driver and his two passengers. All three claims were seeking whiplash compensation as part of a personal injury claim.

Mr Adams said: “I just want to warn people to be aware if they see cars being driven strangely like these two to keep well back in case they are trying to trap another driver to win big cash payouts.”

The businessman has lost his no claims bonus and will face higher car insurance premiums in the future due to the personal injury claims listed against him. He asked his insurance company to fight the case as he believes the claims are fraudulent but they decided to pay the injured parties.