car accident and solicitors

sunnygal

Can any of you experts help or advise please. My son who's 19 had a car accident, we thought the car was a write off but have since found out that it can be repaired. As he was only insured 3rd party he has to pay for the repairs himself. But he had hit another car and there is damage to that car.

However he has been approached by a guy claiming to be from a solicitors saying that should he get his two freinds who were in the car with him to claim injuries, he would handle it for them, and get them a few thousand pounds. That way they could split the money and put it towards his next (higher) insurance premium.

The insurance company spoke to me off the record and asked me to deter him from doing this as solicitors would put massive expenses onto his claim. They said his freinds could claim direct from them instead of going through a solicitors.

My advice, has been don't claim as they werent' injured. simple. But being 19 and short of money this side is very tempting to him (and his friends).

Can I ask what the experts opinion is.

zzzLazyDaisy

Don't do it.

Insurers don't just pay out on request, they'd have to show proof of injury (eg hospital or doctors records) and would probably also have to attend a doctor appointed by the insurer.

As a solicitor, I also have to say that it is highly unlikely that this person really does work for the solicitor's practice as what is being suggested is plainly fraud.

nomoreheroes

If he and his mates are short of money why stop at insurance fraud why not mug a few pensioners that will be easy pickings.

sunnygal

thanks for that nomorheroes. But it's not very helpful is it.
My son would not mug pensioners thankyou. He is lost, confused and upset His father just died and he left him the money which bought the car. Therefore he feels somehow that he has to keep it on the road as it were, for his dad.

I am tryi ng to steer him to do the right thing but I am not an insurance expert which is why I asked the people on here who are.

Quentin

sunnygal wrote: »

Therefore he feels somehow that he has to keep it on the road as it were, for his dad.

I am tryi ng to steer him to do the right thing but I am not an insurance expert which is why I asked the people on here who are.

What sort of parent comes here wanting to "steer" their child to do the right thing by asking whether or not he should make a fraudulent insurance claim?

You knew his Dad better than your son, so you know what his view would have been on getting involved in this sort of criminal act in his memory!

Maybe you can advise him according to your own values.

lucylucky

sunnygal wrote: »

thanks for that nomorheroes. But it's not very helpful is it.
My son would not mug pensioners thankyou. He is lost, confused and upset His father just died and he left him the money which bought the car. Therefore he feels somehow that he has to keep it on the road as it were, for his dad.

I am tryi ng to steer him to do the right thing but I am not an insurance expert which is why I asked the people on here who are.

If you want to steer him anywhere telling him that committing fraud will get him a criminal record which will have a bearing on his future in so many ways.

(I liked nomoreheroes post)

Crazy_Jamie

sunnygal wrote: »

thanks for that nomorheroes. But it's not very helpful is it.
My son would not mug pensioners thankyou. He is lost, confused and upset His father just died and he left him the money which bought the car. Therefore he feels somehow that he has to keep it on the road as it were, for his dad.

I am tryi ng to steer him to do the right thing but I am not an insurance expert which is why I asked the people on here who are.

Why is this a question for the experts? This is quite simply a moral question. You know that they are not injured, you know that this would be fraud, and you therefore know that it would be not only morally wrong but a criminal offence.

I have to admit that, notwithstanding that you have told him not to do it, the fact that you still came here for advice on the matter is slightly concerning.

corbyboy

I don't really know a lot about personal injury claims, but can you claim off your own insurance if you get injured in an accident that you are liable for?

In this circumstance I think only the friends would get a payout. Do you really trust them enough to split the money with your son once they get a payout? What would his friends have to gain by spending their fraudulantly obtained money on your son's car repairs and insurance premiums?

andyd

As a PI solicitor, I suspect the guy who approached your son is from a claims company who's out to make a fast buck. What he's suggesting is illegal and immoral.

Please tell your son not to even contemplate assisting in a fraudulent claim.

Actions such as this reflect badly on genuine claimants who are sometimes unfairly accused of fraud by insurers who are very wary of fraudulent claims.

nearlyrich

The "solicitor" is probably an agent working for a dodgy no win no fee outfit, if the people were not injured don't claim, simple.

Pee

If the friends had been injured, they would be able to claim. If they were able to claim they would be best off using a solicitor and not going to the insurance company direct but they would be best using a solicitor they felt comfortable with, probably not someone approaching people and suggesting fraudulent claims.

Not long ago two teenagers were jailed in South America for a false insurance claim relating to cameras etc on a holiday or gap year travels and their parents seemed very surprised they were jailed as they had "only" commited insurance fraud.