Crash for cash

Mols

Hi

I'm not sure if this is the correct board for this. My fiance had an accident this evening which was an obvious accident on purpose for insurance claims.

The car in front slammed on its breaks on a blind bend, my fiance couldn't stop in time and crashed into the back of the car.

He fortunately has some witnesses who have confirmed the actual events, but as a rear shunt he is 'liable' and is concerned that his no claims is now damaged and there maybe ongoing costs. The people in the front car have lied to the police about what actually happened, and all ended up in A&E on stretchers, even though they were clearly absolutely fine immediately after the accident whilst the 'family' of the driver arrived within 2 minutes of the accident with a tow vehicle and cameras.

If anyone has any experience of this type of accident and advice on how to manage the insurance claim, I would be very grateful to receive any advice. My fiance has lost his vehicle tonight which will be a 'write off' and is concerned by not only the insurance costs, but also of any points he may get on his license and any claims for the 4 ambulances and road clean up he may find himself liable for.

Many thanks

Mols

[Deleted User]

I am sure that some experts will be online to advise you shortly.

As long as he is insured he should not be too concerned, of course as you say all of the costs will have to be met by the insurance.

In any event his vehicle should not have hit the third party for any reason. I accept what you say about the "crash for cash", but that's not going to be an excuse. You often find that most witnesses don't follow it through and won't be there at court (if by chance it ever goes that far)

I hope you get it sorted, unfortunately this is a very normal problem on the roads today.

chanz4

a fox jumped out the hedge, there we go did the witness see it? Supprised they are not on here how much pi can we get

sarahg1969

OP, get your OH to write down precisely what happened, right now while he remembers. Everything from what happened before the collision, to the accident, to the aftermath, including descriptions of the vehicles, the other driver, any passengers, what was said, were any other vehicles possibly involved, etc.

He then needs to report the matter to his insurers, and tell them exactly what has happened, and that he believes he was set up.

Did he take photos of the vehicles and the people? Did the other driver write down his details, or hand him a pre-written note?

Hopefully, provided he and the witnesses are willing to assist, the insurers will take this seriously - they are taking it more seriously than they used to, because it's becoming so much more common, I'm afraid.

forgotmyname

Should have called the police if he thinks he is being scammed.

sarahg1969

forgotmyname wrote: »

Should have called the police if he thinks he is being scammed.

The police were called. That, at the very least, should prevent them inventing passengers.

UKR3

Assj is correct, unless there is rock solid evidence fraud has been committed, your insurance company will be picking up the whole bill. Even if the accident is contrived, it sounds like the circumstances will be hard to dispute and evidence may possibly go against you if contested.

If everything is as you mentioned in the OP, your fianc!e's insurer will cover all the loss including ambulances and the clear up.

The bad news, is the no claims will be affected, you will likely lose your excess too.

sarahg1969

UKR3 wrote: »

Assj is correct, unless there is rock solid evidence fraud has been committed, your insurance company will be picking up the whole bill. Even if the accident is contrived, it sounds like the circumstances will be hard to dispute and evidence may possibly go against you if contested.

If everything is as you mentioned in the OP, your fianc!e's insurer will cover all the loss including ambulances and the clear up.

The bad news, is the no claims will be affected, you will likely lose your excess too.

That's a very defeatist attitude, and quite old fashioned. Insurers are investigating these claims much more closely now, and if the OP's OH is adamant and he has witnesses, and they are all proofed by investigators and they think their evidence is sound, there's every chance the insurers will repudiate the claims made.

It may well be that any accident management companies involved are also known to the insurers, which will convince them even more that the claim needs to be investigated. Or they may be familiar with other such claims at the same location. Or the other people may have a history behind them.

UKR3

sarahg1969 wrote: »

That's a very defeatist attitude, and quite old fashioned. Insurers are investigating these claims much more closely now, and if the OP's OH is adamant and he has witnesses, and they are all proofed by investigators and they think their evidence is sound, there's every chance the insurers will repudiate the claims made.

It may well be that any accident management companies involved are also known to the insurers, which will convince them even more that the claim needs to be investigated. Or they may be familiar with other such claims at the same location. Or the other people may have a history behind them.

I apologise, I mis-read the OP. I thought the witnesses were for the other driver.

New advice - fight this all the way.

If the witnesses back you up, you should have a very strong case.

sarahg1969

UKR3 wrote: »

I apologise, I mis-read the OP. I thought the witnesses were for the other driver.

A-ha. That's the great things with these types of case. Even if they HAD been witnesses for the other driver, it doesn't take long to find out they know each other, if you know what you're doing!!

Mols

Thank you for your messages.

We have general photos of the vehicles, and photos of both the driver and passengers standing around chatting before the police arrived.

We then have photos photos of them with the emergency services lying on the side of the road and then with neck braces and then on stretchers. We also have photos of the vehicles, the marks on the road where the front car skidded to a stop, and also photos of our vehicle which crashed into the back of it, photos showing the bend and no stopping road markings and the witnesses. One of the witnesses gave a statement to the Police and also gave us his name and number in case we needed confirmation of what really happened.

I have written down the details my fiance provided to the Police, and the information he remembered after the shock when we got home so we have a full account for the insurance company tomorrow.

Thank you very much for your advice. It is very much appreciated.

Mols