Have I been stung from a claim scammer?

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HumberMart

Active Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2010
Messages
447
Location
North Lincolnshire
Car
CL500 4.7 twin turbo
I was driving along a duel carriagway at 60-70 mph a few weeks ago in the outside lane, passing slower moving traffic in the inside lane, minding my own business (fotunately in my old Seat Cordoba Estate I'd picked up off eBay for £700 and not my new W212).

Without warning an old battered white E220 swerved from the inside lane and hit my near side sqaure on, pushing me into the central reservation and denting my wing/doors etc.

I was so please to survive, and realise that I hadn't damaged my new Merc that I was prepared to 'walk away' from trying to claim on insurance, and the damage was very minor to my old hack that was already well dented.

Like a bolt from the blue, I've now received a claim from one of those 'no win no fee' cowboys for severe wiplash and stress injuries to a passanger that was in the back of the old white Merc! Claiming that I had swerved into them!

Without CCTV, any advice on how I should deal with this?
 
Without CCTV, any advice on how I should deal with this?

Sounds like they are chancing it. I watched with disbelief last night on TV a program about claims etc. I would write a letter explaining exactly what happened and also explain why you didnt claim and tell them dont bother writing to you again. remember its up to them to provide evidence you are at fault.

if they pushed you into the central reservation, you'll have damage on both side of you car as possible proof?

sounds quite a serious bump so personally i would have reported it.
 
Did you report the accident to your insurer at the time?

If not, you may have a problem and I'd advise taking proper legal advice ASAP.
 
^ +2

If this was not reported to the police or your insurance company at the time of the incident, you need legal advice pronto.

Always report no matter how small or insignificant it may seem as if you don't it could come back to bite you later.
 
Yeah, it all seems silly now why I didn't report it at the time (although I did post an account of it on my Facebook page the same evening - if that counts!!).

I was a bit concerned about reporting an incident that - although absolutely not my fault - would still likely count against me on my driving record. I also assumed that I would probably get nowhere with trying to claim off the third party, after a bad experience my step son just had and spent months getting nowhere. It seems these days that unless you have CCTV, the police prosecute, someone runs into the back of you, or you have several cast iron independant witnesses willing to go to court, you may as well put it all down to experience.

As stated , there were a few existing dents on my car, so it wouldn't be easily possible to prove the action by damage to the car. It did affect my tracking and damage wheel trims from the impact with the kerb to the central reservation, but fortunately I didn't actually mount the kerb.

It was a scary accident due to the speed, but actual contact with both third party car and kerb were not excessive.
 
As advised seek specialised legal advice pronto. Depending on what they say you will probably then have to report the accident to your insurance company since this is how they will eventually try to extort money for injuries. I think all you can do is plead that in your opinion the incident was so minor you omitted to report it. Now you aware that there might be implications you have reported it immediately to your insurance company and apologise for the delay in informing them. Hopefully they will accept this. It may also help if you explain you think you are the victim of some sort of insurance claim scam. If this is the case the police will have to be involved at some point. Try and document exactly what happened as long as its reasonably fresh in your mind since you will have to fill in a detailed accident report for the insurance at some point. Whiplash is only going to occur if their car was brought to sudden halt or hit from behind by another vehicle and from your limited description of the accident I cant' see how that can have happened. If its any comfort these insurance scammers eventually make one claim too many and the law/insurance catches up with them. Do not contact the claimants representatives in any way before seeking advice.
 
The police should be informed immediately, or they will try to claim that not only were you at fault, but that you left the scene of an accident, tell your insurance company of the reasons for the delay (you thought it so minor that it was forgettable), I'm certain they will be accomodating, and make sure these other people have reported it to the police, if they have not, I would suggest that they are not only taking you for a ride, but that it will not cost them 1penny piece to do it. That, unfortunately is the kind of sick society we live in today, where the honest, law abiding motorist is being scammed and taken advantage of by bone-idle, something for nothing ****heads who would rather sue you free of charge than actually do a hard days work and be proud. The fact that he/she was driving a mercedes is irrelevant, they probably stole it anyway.:mad:
 
I'd read this and ring the number:

BBC NEWS | Magazine | 'Cash for crash' scam targets drivers

HOW TO DEAL WITH A STAGED CRASH
Do not say anything about your suspicions
Take photos of cars and passengers
Count the number of passengers in the other car
Try to find an independent witness
Tell the police and your insurers about your suspicions
To report someone suspected of this crime ring 0800 328 2550.
 
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There is an Insurance Industry hotline to report such matters you will have to inform your Insurance Company they are not keen on paying scammers or anyone else.
There might be traffic cameras, either before or after the site of the incident.
Further you never know, the merc that hit you, time date anything else, post it on here just nothing personal to you.
 
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Did you exchange details at the time of the accident? that is what the law requires unless there is an obvious and serious injury and then the Police must be called. If you didn't stop and exchange details then you should report it to the police as soon as possible

Your Insurance notification is a contractual matter between the you and the company and they always have a small print that requires you to inform them.

Get legal advice asap

How long ago did this happen; If its less than a month then theres a good chance their is CCTV , after all we are the most spied upon nation in the world , including Russia , China or any other country
 
You should have reported it to your insurance as a notification. You can try claiming you sent an email.
 
Just to advise you further, if you have taken out legal cover on your insurance, NOW is the time to finally take advantage of it. It will be no cost to your self and you dont need to pay any excess.
 
My curiosity is piqued...
Is it possible to report an accident to your insurer without them logging it as a claim?
 
My curiosity is piqued...
Is it possible to report an accident to your insurer without them logging it as a claim?

Yes.

You notify them. You don't claim. No third part claims.

Then they may/may not increase your premium next year.

Most common situation is probably 3rd party via accident management / claims company. You get hit. You put it through a claims company - and you notify your insurer. Insurer may be quite disinterested.
 
some people should just be sent away to rot
 

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