A claim against me...

LaurenEmma96

Hi all,
I was wondering whether anyone could offer any advice on how to handle this situation?
I've had a call from my car insurance company today, saying that a woman is alleging that I hit her with my car in Bristol city centre. She is claiming I hit her and left with injuries (I'm not sure what) but gave my registration number and description of my car. However, I did not do this, I have proof of being elsewhere on the day, and my car has a tracking device, proving it was sat on my driveway all day.
I am worried sick that this is going to progress to court, even though I have done nothing wrong, and have been reading how people can still claim, even if this is the case. I'm scared this is going to affect my insurance prices and worried about legal action being taken against me.
If anyone can offer me any advice or experience with this sort of matter I would really appreciate it- thanks in advance.

Lauren.

Quentin

If you search online you will see this type mistaken identity claim is nothing new.

So don't worry.

Make sure your insurer is aware of your side of the story and that they have the evidence that your car was elsewhere.

This is either a scam claim or the third party was hit by a "cloned" reg plated car.

LaurenEmma96

Oh, okay, thanks for responding, helps to put my mind at rest!!

Lauren

dacouch

As Quentin has mentioned you have nothing to worry about.

Your Insurers will be very pleased you have such good evidence, I would recommend you submit all of your evidence along with a covering letter.

Insurers are used to having no evidence to contradict these claims along with policyholders who cannot be bothered to help defend the claim. So having such a helpful customer with solid evidence will be a pleasant surprise for your Insurers

Car_54

Quentin wrote: »

This is either a scam claim or the third party was hit by a "cloned" reg plated car.

Or, more likely, they simply got the number wrong.

stator

This happened to me with my motorcycle. Some dodgey personal injury solicitor put in a claim which I denied and the insurance company sent a response to the solicitor and waiting for his response. They never got a response so the case stayed open for a year and I had to lose my NCB temporarily. They refunded me after a year when they dismissed the claim and reinstated my NCB but I obviously didn't have the chance to change insurers, so lost a bit of money.

knightstyle

Just a thought, were you in the place they say the event took place on another day or time? Could be they just got that bit wrong and will correct it later?
Any CCTV in the area?

Leon_W

I had this happen to me.

Out of the blue I get a letter saying I was involved in an accident in London (I live in Bath and my wife had the car at work locally). Allegedly I'd hit another motorist, the registration number given was mine though and that I'd been towing a trailer with another car on it at the time ??

All complete nonsense which my insurer was prepared to defend. The case went quite a long way with even a court date set but in the end they (the claimant) backed down as contrary evidence was overwhelming. I could prove where the car was, it's a Fiat Panda which is unlikely to be towing a trailer with another car on it ! Never had a towbar either.

Although it went quite a long way it transpires that the Reg Number was incorrectly taken (digit out) and it was a Fiat Ducato van.

I wouldn't worry. Remember, it's up to them to prove you were involved and not for you to prove you weren't.

Hoof_Hearted

The other possibility is that somebody has cloned your car. This happened to the wife some years back. The cloned car was stopped by traffic police who spotted that the model spec and year, although similar, did not quite match up.

dannyrst

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

The other possibility is that somebody has cloned your car. This happened to the wife some years back. The cloned car was stopped by traffic police who spotted that the model spec and year, although similar, did not quite match up.

If the car has been cloned, I suggest the OP keeps records of where the car has been incase any other claims for speeding, parking etc come through.

dacouch

dannyrst wrote: »

If the car has been cloned, I suggest the OP keeps records of where the car has been incase any other claims for speeding, parking etc come through.

I've seen it recommended where someone suspects their car is cloned to add a distinctive sticker to the back window and / or bumper as it can help show it was not your car the speed camera caught