Claim that I hit parked car months ago

brineybay

Hi, I'm looking for some help and would be grateful for any insights and advice.



I have recently received a claim from my previous car insurance company saying that I hit and dented a parked vehicle nearly 7 months ago. I have since changed car insurance company and am no longer with that company.



The claim said that I hit and caused damage to a parked car in a nearby residential road at the beginning of the summer. I responded to say that I had no knowledge of this.



My ex-insurance company has now responded saying they have images of my vehicle and the third-party vehicle "at the scene of the incident". Having looked at the images, all they show is a close-up of of a dent in someone else's car, and then an image of my vehicle parked on my private driveway (outside my house). Evidently these images have been taken by the third party at some point. There is a close up shot of what they are calling 'scuff marks' on my vehicle which they claim is in line with the damage to their vehicle.


My ex-insurance company says on the back of this that I am liable for the damage: "[FONT=calibri, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Based on these images, you were present at the incident location. Therefore, we will have to accept full responsibility on this claim."
[/FONT]


I have several problems with this. Firstly, the images do not show our vehicles at the same place, as my car has been photographed outside my own house. Not sure how anyone can claim this is proof of me at the scene. Secondly, I have honestly no way of proving or disproving whether the 'scuffs' on my car match the third party's damage. My car is fairly old and does have a fair amount of scuffs and scratches.



I also don't understand why this has taken so long to get to me. The alleged date of the incident was nearly 7 months ago. How would it have taken this long to process a claim?



Finally, I have not been provided with any details about the exact time of the supposed incident, or who was in the car, or what I was wearing.



The road in question is a quiet residential street in my area which I do occasionally pass through and, very rarely, park in.



I do not feel that the images provided constitute proof that I hit someone else's car, as the images have clearly been taken in different locations. Without any further information I don't know what to say, but my ex-insurance company seems to have already made its decision that I'm liable for this.



I have 14 days to respond. What do I do now?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

facade

Reply again, denying any involvement, point out that your car was not photographed at the scene of the incident, and that the damage on your car was pre-existing.


Unless the third party has a witness who will perjure themself, or photoshopped evidence of your car at the scene there can be no proof of your involvement. (Assuming that you weren't involved)



Most likely your insurer will just pay up though if it is a few hundred pounds, as it isn't worth more than a letter denying liability, they won't go to a court over it.

foxy-stoat

Jokes - all you can do is deny liability and urge your ex insurer that they cannot accept liability as the photos are not evidence that you drove into the car, lack of independent witness statement = no proof.

Odd how they targeted you and your car though, if I was looking out of my window and saw you hit my car I would be straight out there requesting insurance details and taking photos then and there.

missile

I responded to say that I had no knowledge of this.

Did you cause the damage?

facade

foxy-stoat wrote: »

Odd how they targeted you and your car though, if I was looking out of my window and saw you hit my car I would be straight out there requesting insurance details and taking photos then and there.

Presumably the car drove off, and they either have low quality TV or someone saw it, and they have walked round looking for a car that matches the colour with visible damage and blamed that one.

Shaun_of_the_Dead

But you have scuffs on your car and do park in the road.

Can you evidence where you were on the day in question and how the scuffs came to be on your car?

brineybay

Dear all,


Thanks for all your quick and helpful responses. Just to clarify that to my knowledge I did not cause the damage. I have my own driveway and so I mostly park on there, but there are some rare instances when I park in neighbouring roads (including the alleged road) as my street can be particularly busy.


I do think that the scuffs on my car were per-existing to this alleged incident, but I have no way to prove it - I have never been around my car photographing minor dents and scuffs (presumably people don't normally do this?!)


Although it is difficult to remember exactly my movements on the day in question (it being 7 months ago) I was out a few times that day seeing family and friends, as it was a weekend.



I would have thought the burden of proof was on the third party to prove that it definitely was me. There has been no claim as of yet of any eye witnesses, CCTV footage, or even an exact time that the alleged incident took place. Considering that someone has clearly been around to photograph my car outside my house, why didn't they knock the door or have a word with me at the time? This is the first I have ever heard about it.



Also, would it have taken nearly 7 months for the insurance companies to process this claim? Or is it more likely that they claim has only just been made?

Aylesbury_Duck

brineybay wrote: »

Dear all,

Thanks for all your quick and helpful responses. Just to clarify that to my knowledge I did not cause the damage. I have my own driveway and so I mostly park on there, but there are some rare instances when I park in neighbouring roads (including the alleged road) as my street can be particularly busy.

I do think that the scuffs on my car were per-existing to this alleged incident, but I have no way to prove it - I have never been around my car photographing minor dents and scuffs (presumably people don't normally do this?!)

Although it is difficult to remember exactly my movements on the day in question (it being 7 months ago) I was out a few times that day seeing family and friends, as it was a weekend.

I would have thought the burden of proof was on the third party to prove that it definitely was me. There has been no claim as of yet of any eye witnesses, CCTV footage, or even an exact time that the alleged incident took place. Considering that someone has clearly been around to photograph my car outside my house, why didn't they knock the door or have a word with me at the time? This is the first I have ever heard about it.

Also, would it have taken nearly 7 months for the insurance companies to process this claim? Or is it more likely that they claim has only just been made?

To be honest, yours is not the most convincing denial - your choice of words does suggest that at best you believe you may have unknowingly hit the other car and at worst, that you know you did. Nevertheless, without any evidence of the accident involving you and if you are certain you weren't involved, I would have thought that a firm, documented denial of any involvement to your previous insurer should suffice.

sevenhills

missile wrote: »

Did you cause the damage?

The way he is wording his posts, I would say yes.

longwalks1

the way you've worded your posts isnt overly convincing I'm afraid, as Aylesbury Duck and Sevenhills says

AdrianC

brineybay wrote: »

I would have thought the burden of proof was on the third party to prove that it definitely was me.

Your insurer just needs to be satisfied that somebody covered by your policy was indeed responsible for causing the damage.

Sounds like they've done that.

Remember - if they're convinced, they pay. If they aren't convinced, they don't pay. So it's hardly in their interest to pay out on spurious information, is it?