Fraudulent Motor Insurance Claim

Queries

I'll be brief - promise! On Monday 24 May 2010, 21.00 (approx.) a bicycle came off a low kerb in front of my Suzuki Carry Van. I had just crossed a staggered crossroad, doing about 10mph and the light was fading. He was on a fold-up bike and wearing black clothes, with a tiny headlamp unit. He caught my van, scratching the front plastic bumper bar and (his pedal?) caught my numberplate, breaking the two pastic tacks holding it in place, so it fell off. Catching the numberplate, caused him to veer a little, otherwise I think that he would have made it to the next pavement. He did not fall off his bike. I parked further up the road, he wheeled his bike to my van without any problems, nor was he limping. I did not call the Police, since there was no damage to either him or his bike. As a gesture of goodwill I drove him to the road he lived (stayed?) on. I gave him my name, address and 'phone number. He gave me no details other than his first name.

On Tuesday 8 June 2010 (over two weeks later) he 'phoned me saying that he had, had the bike repaired and a receipt for over £173, which he wanted me to pay. I refused and put the 'phone down on him. There had been no contact from him prior to this. If there had been anything wrong with his bike (which there wasn't) he should have contacted me with the best of three quotes. Also, the time delay suggests he may have had another accident since hitting my van.

On Wednesday 16 June 2010, he left a message on my answerphone, which I erased. On Saturday 19 June 2010, I receive a letter from my insurers saying that I had hit him coming out of a side road and that he was claiming for a sprained ankle (no mention re: bike repair). I did not give him my insurance details so he must have gone to one of these 'no win, no fee' solicitors. Again, he could have sprained his ankle at any time in the intervening 20+ days (if he has a sprained ankle at all)!

Today, 22 June 2010, I went for advice from the local Police Station and was told that any kind of complaints about motor insurance fraud had to come from the insurers, not an individual. Also, there was a good chance that the insurance company would pay out, since it would probably cost more to research the case. So, at the moment, I seem to be in a no win situation.

I have been driving for over 20 years, have never had an accident where I was at fault. I have 9 years+ protected No Claims Discount and have never had any criminal convictions, nor speeding fines.

The information from my Insurers is sketchy , with a lot of TBA's - do the initials mean To Be Approved? In addition, there are No Witness Details Given, but I would not be surprised if he does not drum up support fom his friends.

Also, I still do not know his address but due to my insurers I now know his second name.

Any ideas where I go from here? Any suggestions and ideas would be most helpful. Who says honesty pays? If I lose to him I shall have to pay an excess and my insurance would probably increase astronomically in the future, for something which is not my fault! Thank you.

anewman

Perhaps accident staging has moved from cars with brake lights cut, to push bike now?! Would have taken some doing to make the numberplate to fall off though.

Queries

Actually no, my numberplate was attached by two plastic tacks (and being 9 years old, some very ancient glue) and you bear in mind that he grazed the bumper-bar prior to catching (probably) his bike pedal on the edge of the numberplate, and thus peeled it off. That's why front numberplates have plastic tacks, otherwise if they were metal, (like the back) the numberplate would have been broken.

Anyway, what I am actually looking for is some useful advice as to where I go from here, thank you.

mcjordi

tell your insurer how it happened..

raskazz

Put in a counterclaim for the cost of repairing your numberplate. That ought to scare the little !!!!!! off.

anewman

raskazz wrote: »

Put in a counterclaim for the cost of repairing your numberplate. That ought to scare the little !!!!!! off.

Apart from the fact that it is unlikely the bicycle rider had any form of insurance (perhaps they legally should need insurance, but that's a different matter).

mcjordi wrote: »

tell your insurer how it happened..

I wonder if it may go against the OP Responding to a claim in a way which indicates there was an incident, if they had not previously reported the incident (assuming they did not). Insurance policies normally state you have to inform them of any incidents even if no claims will be made.

pimento

I think you're on a hiding to nothing. You hit the guy. The fact it was dark and he was wearing dark clothes are factors, but I think you are supposed to be driving carefully enough for the conditions.

You may have gotten away lightly with a bill for £173. I would always insist on calling the police and/or an ambulance if I had hit/knocked/jostled a pedestrian with my car if only to ensure they don't exaggerate afterwards.

raskazz

anewman wrote: »

Apart from the fact that it is unlikely the bicycle rider had any form of insurance (perhaps they legally should need insurance, but that's a different matter).

Whether an individual has insurance or not is irrelevant to whether you can pursue them for damages for their negligence. Just issue a claim in the small claims court.

Paradigm

Queries wrote: »

I'll be brief - promise! On Monday 24 May 2010, 21.00 (approx.) a bicycle came off a low kerb in front of my Suzuki Carry Van.

So he pulled off the pavement in front of you & he's claiming?

Queries

Dear Pimento

The cyclist came off the pavement onto the road, he did not see me!! The fault was his. The bike was not damaged and neither was he. He did not even come off his bike. When I spoke to the Police today about it they told me I was correct in not calling them out as nobody was injured. One of the issues I am trying to find out is how to report a fradulent claim. Note the time lapses re: the bike rider. Also, he did not give me his name, address or 'phone number. He contacts me 15 days later with a receipt. Then because I won't help him because the fault is not mine! He decides to coantact a No Win, No Fee lawyer with a dubious sprained ankle claim. Bear in mind it is 4 weeks today since the incident.

I would apprciate any advice which helps me sort this problem out, thank you.

I will also reiterate that I have never had an accident that was my fault in the 20 years I have been driving, I have no criminal convictions, I have no points on my licence and no speeding fines! So, of course I am obviously naive when it comes to incident like the one mentioned!

Thank you to everybody for their help and advice. Any further ideas much appreciated.

geri1965_2

I would explain the circumstances to your insurers and let them deal with it. First thing I would do in their position is to ask for copies of his medical notes, to see when and if he went to see a doctor about his ankle and if so, how he said it happened.