Fraudulent Claim

chipmunk

Not got the full details as I only learned of this during a brief chat with a friend. Earlier this year, he had a minor traffic accident in his car. He was stationary behind a car that was waiting to turn right across oncoming traffic onto a garage forecourt. This car set off to cross the road but stopped suddenly as they hadn't seen an approaching car and my friend, who had started to move forward when the other car had, hit the bumper causing very minor damage, a dint about the size of a 10p piece in her bumper. The driver got out of their car, as did my friend. She was very aggressive, shouting and swearing that he should effing look where he was going. She had one passenger, a young boy (later discovered it was her son) who had got out of the car and was taking pictures of the bumper and my friends car (and my friend as well!) with his mobile.

A few days after the accident, the Police called at my friends house to advise him that they had a complaint of a whiplash injury following and accident with his car. He said yes, he'd had an accident but as no-one was injured, didn't advise the police. He took them outside and showed them his car which had a small scratch on the front bumper and they said they had viewed the womans car and could not understand how a whiplash injury had occurred. They went on to tell him that it was the son who claimed to have the injury and visited the local hospital but had been sent away with no apparent injury.

Then, a few weeks later, lo and behold, my friend receives through the post three letters from one of these personal injury claim companies saying that he is being sued for injuries sustained during the accident for the driver and her two passengers!! Each letter states the claimant is suffering from whiplash injuries. Apparently, this type of claim usually results in a payout of, on average, £5,000. Nice little earner for this lying fraudster.:mad:

He contacted this company and told them she was lying but they said there was nothing they could do but a note would be put on the file.

Incidentally, this woman is local and when my friend was talking to someone else about it and mentioned her name, this person said "get ready for the personal injury claim". Seems she has perhaps done this before.

His insurance company are dealing with the matter but he is incensed that she will, in all likelihood, get away with it and wonders if there is anything he can do about.

sarahg1969

I assume your friend has given the insurance company a very detailed description of the entire circumstances surrounding this incident, and asked that they give the matter some proper attention?

The insurers will know if they have made claims before, because their details will be on a database, and if your friend is insistent enough, they should investigate it further.

Rallydriver

http://www.ifig.org/report-fraud/

0800 328 2550 - Insurance fraud bureau cheatline.

Rallydriver

sarahg1969 wrote: »

I assume your friend has given the insurance company a very detailed description of the entire circumstances surrounding this incident, and asked that they give the matter some proper attention?

Probably not. And this is the reason alot of these claims come about. Lots of people will think "Oh, its only a tiny bump. There's no need to take pictures or anything."

Well, its precisely the time pictures are most required. When you take good evidence at the site of an accident the other people will see this, when you don't they'll also notice so they'll know they are more likely to get away with a fraudulent claim. See my advice in this thread (post 16)
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2010485

The insurers will know if they have made claims before, because their details will be on a database, and if your friend is insistent enough, they should investigate it further.

All insurance claims through all UK insurers are entered on to databases run by an un-named organisation. So patterns of claims can be analysed etc.

dacouch

If you want to help reduces the chances of this type of thing and to help your Insurers handle the claim efficiently. Take pictures of the drivers and passengers along with noting their names on your camera phone or keep a disposable camera in the car. Also take photos of the damage to both vehicles, how the cars end up, any skid marks, road signs and road markings.

This can greatly help reduce the chances of extra passengers appearing, help he claim be handled and also can help prove your innocence (If applicable) in a claim

m_13

This happened to us with a car full of children who appeared after the accident occurred. Our insurers paid too

Any chance the garage forecourt cameras caught anything?

Has your friend told the police that the son was walking around talking pictures on his mobile 'phone?

sarahg1969

Rallydriver wrote: »

All insurance claims through all UK insurers are entered on to databases run by an un-named organisation. So patterns of claims can be analysed etc.

I know. I analyse them every day.

Rallydriver

sarahg1969 wrote: »

I know. I analyse them every day.

You don't work for 'over the _' 'cheap as chips' do you?

Money_Grabber13579

There's some very dodgy people around... you couldn't watch them enough. They'll always find a way to con you.

chipmunk

m_13 wrote: »

Any chance the garage forecourt cameras caught anything?

Don't know, I'll ask my friend though it might be too late now as it was earlier this year (don't know exactly when)

m_13 wrote: »

Has your friend told the police that the son was walking around talking pictures on his mobile 'phone?

Yes, I believe he did. Don't know what their response was yet. As I said, I only got the short version of the story. I'll update if I learn any more.

Don't know if they stand much chance though as the boy did actually go to the hospital, although was discharged with no obvious injuries, but there will be a record (presumably) of him attending, unlike the mother and the mysterious A.N. Other for whom there will be no hospital records.

Thanks

chipmunk

Rallydriver wrote: »

http://www.ifig.org/report-fraud/

0800 328 2550 - Insurance fraud bureau cheatline.

Does this apply if the claims being dealt with by an ambulance chaser rather than an insurance company?