The UK must shake off its reputation as the whiplash capital of Europe, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says.

It comes as the group reveals new proposals to crack down on “the fraud of choice” for many claimants.

Each day 1500 people in the UK claim a whiplash injury, which is notoriously difficult to diagnose.

Reported incidents have risen nearly 25% in the past four years, despite the number of crashes falling, according to the ABI.

Whiplash claims cost £2 billion ($2.9 billion) a year, adding £90 ($130) a year to the average motor insurance premium.

The ABI’s proposals state that anyone claiming whiplash should have to undergo examination by an accredited, independent medical expert, while the circumstances of the crash – not just the claimant’s reported symptoms – would be taken into account.

A board of government, judiciary, claimant interest groups, compensators and medical experts would carry out accreditation.

The small claims threshold would rise from £1000 ($1448) to £5000 ($7238) for all road traffic personal injury claims, and there would be a prescribed level of damages for whiplash.

Any claim that is exaggerated or fabricated in any way should automatically be dismissed, the ABI says.

“Insurers want to make it simpler and quicker for genuine whiplash claimants to get fair compensation,” ABI Assistant Director of Motor and Liability James Dalton said.

“Our proposals will ensure better medical assessment of whiplash claims, offer a quick, simple way of paying genuine claims, provide certainty for claimants and compensators and deter fraud that ends up being paid for through higher motor insurance premiums.”

However, the ABI proposals have reportedly drawn fire from the UK Motor Accident Solicitors Society.

They “would restrict access to justice” and “distort the balance of rights between claimants and defendants”, the society says.