Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Hi guys

Bad news but here goes

I had an accident not long ago on one weekend with a cyclist. Ok it wasn't my fault as the cyclist wasn't looking. However as i braked to a stop, his bike bounces off my car and hit another car that was stationary in traffic. Its a dual carriage way road, with a cycle path on the left of the road which then ends at the kerb. The traffic was grid lock on the nearside lane and my lane, the outside lane, was free flowing. At 0.1 meters this cyclist pulls out without looking, so end up clipping him and his bike. There was no time to react and i was already slowing down for the roundabout at the time. Anyway as the bike bounce off my car and hit another car, the car sitting stationary got some few minor scrapes and mini dents. My car took the worse blunt of the impact requiring a new wing. The cyclist was taken away in an ambulance but is on the mend.

I also got a letter from police saying I was NOT at fault, which is good news.

However I get a letter from other drivers insurance company for the damages.

Now this is what makes me angry. The driver who was unharmed, (sitting in traffic of course), is trying to pursue damages to personal injury to his shoulder, his medical expenses and miscellaneous expenses.

However the only thing that was damaged was his car! I'm in a state of despair as he trying to claim thousands by lying in from what actually happen. I'm also not at fault on any counts.

Anyone got any suggestions? Thanks for reading

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Suerly the polcie said you "Weren't" at fault????

Don't fret it. Jsut give the details to your insurers. Let them deal with it.

Did you get the details of any witnesses?

Worst case scenario, you dispute, they dispute etc you go to court...they decide against you. Your premiums go up next year.

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Thanks just corrected that

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

btw: Most likely your insurers will want to settle with as little cost to them as possible.

That is most likely to mean they will pressure you into admitting liabilty, unless you took down details of a witness that said you're in the clear. OR unless the cyclists admits liability.

Your insurers won't want to go to court because if they lose they'll have to pay court costs on top of the third parties claim. But if you admit liability early it softens the blow for them & they recoup the cost by your inflated premiums!

Treat your insurance co as if they're working for the third party, question everything. Make notes of the date/time when you call them/who you spoke to & keep copies of all correspondence just to be sure. Remember, it's a business: They're in it for their profits not for you.

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

The police took witness statements, but i'm unable to get that information under the data protection act.

However i overheard their converstation with the police, which puts the blame on the cyclist.

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Right, speak to your insurers, they can apply for a copy of the police report. It's not expensive. Get the ball rolling. You'll have to quote the police reference number you were given in the police letter.

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Or just phone up the office the Cop dealing works at, get him to give you the details you need. Also, if the other driver had any injury, it would have been recorded by the Cops. If he didn't but now claims some, let the officer know. He may contact the bloke and set him straight.

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Leave it to your insurance company - they see and deal with this sort of thing every day.

I'm sure that they will remind the other drivers' ins co that fraud is a criminal offence and that the police actually attended this incident ;)

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

I had this when I wrote off my naked. Bloke said he had "whiplash". I may have believed him but I hit his stationary car, not the bike, I didn't get hurt at all I hit him so slowly...

When he started saying "I've had to go to the doctor because of my neck" I just told the insurance company that I thought he was having them on. They later confirmed that no personal injury claim was made..... :rolleyes:

Re: Exaggerated Insurance Claim - Fraud
 

Point this out to your insurance company and demand that they ask for disclosure of the medical evidence. Insurance coys generally don't like fraud and will almost certainly do it.