'Crash for Cash' scam

Pufzy

I was involved in a suspected 'Crash for cash' accident.
I was leaving a roundabout which links to a slip road approaching the junction of a motorway. The car infront all of a sudden comes to a complete stop. I saw no warning , no lights or obstacle ahead of him.
The driver refused to wait for the police and was very quick to demand exchange of details so he could leave. Not worried one bit about me or my car which was stuck in the middle of the lane.
The insurance company are suspicious of the whole thing believing it may be a 'crash for cash' scam. I had never heard of this until after it happend but it all seems quite possible.

My question is... 'I was only third party, as it stands as i hit him I am in the wrong so can't claim. However if it's a scam where do i stand surely I can claim from some one - why haven't the police been involved?'

Any one had similar happen to them?

Yours awaiting and confused about how the bad guys are always protected whilst the victim ends up out of pocket.

Pufzy
:mad:
ps My insurance company have said they have passed it up the line for investigation but that was a week ago.

gordikin

Did their brake lights come on?

JPS29

Were they white british or other and where in the country did the accident happen.

brians_daughter

This happens quite often, well when i say quite often what i mean is it is a well documented scam. They disconnect their brake lights, get a car full of willing people and slam on with no warning and no brake lights. You run into them, they get your details get home, re-connect brake lights their car(hopefully in their case) gets written off and 5 whiplash claims.

Happened to someone i know who argued til blue in face with her inurance cpompany who still paid out for 5 whiplash claims, even tho there were only 4 ppl in the car. They couldnt/didnt want the hassle of going to court etc so just paid out. Sad, but true, what ppl will do for a quick few quid

Crazy_Jamie

Pufzy wrote: »

Yours awaiting and confused about how the bad guys are always protected whilst the victim ends up out of pocket.

Stop the stereotypical drawl. Whilst it would be lovely if these people could be stopped by writing an angry letter and making them confess, it is far more complicated and that. These people are generally quite clever; they know the system, and they know the best ways to play it. Which means that insurance companies (or, more precisely, their solicitors who specialise in fraudulent PI claims) need to be smarter. That is not a quick process.

Pufzy wrote:

ps My insurance company have said they have passed it up the line for investigation but that was a week ago.

Again, see my above comments. No personal injury claim is completed in a week, and ultimately one in which fraud is pleaded will become much more complex than average. Practically the only contribution you will be making to proceedings at this stage is in the form of a witness statement, which will be sorted out in due course. Beyond that you will play virtually no role, as it will be down to the solicitors acting for the insurance company. Either way, expect to be waiting months in between updates. Litigation takes time. Fraud takes longer.

Pufzy

JPS29: answer to your question - Non white, happened in Kent.

Crazy Jamie: I don't expect a result yet by any means. I was just suprised I've not been asked for the photo evidence I have or even a written statment / diagram of incident. I also have a third party witness who attended shortly after the incident who also thought 'all was not right' about the other peoples behaviour.

I got a letter today from their solicitor with a list of claims they are making. I called my insurance company however the office lines were already closed for the day.
Why are their solicitors contacting me direct, that's not right is it?

starrystarry

It happened to me 4 years ago, at a spot that is now known to be one of the worst places for this in the country. It was a typical case, I was stopped at a roundabout, one car in front of me which moved off then slammed his brakes on for no reason. I had no chance of stopping. I told my insurance company what my suspicions were and they agreed it sounded very likely that it was a crash for cash scam. They didn't do anything about it though, they paid the PI claims etc.

geri1965_2

Pufzy wrote: »

J
I got a letter today from their solicitor with a list of claims they are making. I called my insurance company however the office lines were already closed for the day.
Why are their solicitors contacting me direct, that's not right is it?

This is common practice. Just send it to your insurers and they will deal with it.

JPS29

Pufzy wrote: »

JPS29: answer to your question - Non white, happened in Kent.

Had guessed as much all bar the location but didn't want to say it first incase I was branded.

Well documented cash for crash scams are carried out by asians and eastern europeans. The most famous one I am aware of was the one in the North west with multiple claims all at the same roundabout. Same driver witnessed by the nearby office staff who slammed on and was then rear ended by innocent party, was taking cash for making other people crash into his friends/family/assosciates cars. Nice little earner until they got caught, not so nice now inside:D

Pufzy

I sent on the letter. I have now recieved another claim letter, this is from a passanger in the car. What a suprise. I have forwarded this to the insurance company as well.
I still think it's odd that I have still not been asked for a written statement or photos which I took. I'll try calling my insurance company tomorrow.

Pufzy

starrystarry wrote: »

It happened to me 4 years ago, at a spot that is now known to be one of the worst places for this in the country. It was a typical case, I was stopped at a roundabout, one car in front of me which moved off then slammed his brakes on for no reason. I had no chance of stopping. I told my insurance company what my suspicions were and they agreed it sounded very likely that it was a crash for cash scam. They didn't do anything about it though, they paid the PI claims etc.

Why do they get away with it - it's putting lifes at risk. I am told they pick on lone woman , but you could be pregnant or have a small child in the back they can't see. It makes your blood boil doesn't it.:mad: