How does this work?

Originally Posted by muffles

surely should be open and shut, why's he been offered a driving improvement scheme if he wasn't even there! he's an idiot...

Yep, he is an idiot. Everyone I know who has been knocked off (including myself) has had the other party change their story to their insurers, it really annoys me. People just lie to their insurers and just get away with it! There really should be some sort of penalty for this sort of thing.

Keep in touch with your solicitor, these things take ages, so it is important to keep good notes etc. Keep a note of your expenses too. I should imagine you will be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

This is happening with insurance all the time with claims being sought when no accident has even taken place!!

Anyway, my advice is to photograph everything in the event of an accident. Some companies do not like mobile or digital media because of the potential to photoshop!! So I now have in my cars and my learner bike a stills throwaway.

Thanks for the info all.
I should have taken photos really, but as he'd admitted it to all present, including the 2 police officers, I didn't really feel the need to - obviously I will next time, should there be a next time!

I've put my solicitors in touch with the police officer who attended the scene and hopefully that will allow them to sort it out. But I must admit feeling rather vindictive and wanting him to be charged with attempted fraud or something! Maybe I'm being harsh on someone so stupid...

I'm sure it'll turn out alright in the end - these things normally do!

Rgds

I WAS KNOCKED OFF MY OLD SRAD A FEW YEARS BACK BY AN UNINSURED DRIVER,
I HAD PAID THE LEGAL COVER ON MY INSURANCE AND THE SOLICITERS PUT MY CASE UP TO A GOVERMENT SCHEME CALLED 'MIB' AND I ENDED UP GETTING THE FULL PRICE OF MY BIKE PLUS COMPENSATION, ALTHOUGH BECAUSE THE CLAIM WAS IN PROGRESS WHILE I HAD TO RENEW INSURANCE I COULD ONLY USE MY PREVIOUS NO CLAIMS UNTIL IT WAS FINISHED.
HOPE YOUR SITUATION WORKS OUT FOR YOU

Originally Posted by svpilot

Yep, he is an idiot. Everyone I know who has been knocked off (including myself) has had the other party change their story to their insurers, it really annoys me. People just lie to their insurers and just get away with it! There really should be some sort of penalty for this sort of thing.

Keep in touch with your solicitor, these things take ages, so it is important to keep good notes etc. Keep a note of your expenses too. I should imagine you will be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

This is my experience too. Even with witnesses, other people will outright lie about what they did to try to get out of it, even going so far as to try and accuse you of being the guilty one! It's not right, but I think the reason people do it is that there's a lot to be gained (maintain a clean record and possibly get the damage they themselves caused fixed on your insurance) and not a lot to disuade them. I think that if it's proven you lied to your insurers about involvement in an accident, you ought to be fined by the insurer, as well as tried for insurance fraud in the courts. Might make people a bit more inclined to tell the truth.

As it stands, at the very least, they are currently able to drag the thing out for a few years (which, if you're a coffin dodger, is probably all you need). At best, they'll get away scott free. If getting caught lying doesn't have any reprecussions, other than the insurer declaring liability on your behalf (which you should have anyway), people will always be tempted.

I also think the insurers are partly to blame. They put "never accept liability or sign anything at the scene of an accident" all over their literature. Well, it's understandable why they don't want people to accept liability for a 50:50 or non-fault accient while in a state of shock, but at the same time, people refusing to accept liability when they hit you when you're stationary/they rear end you, etc. is extremely frustrating.

[Biker Biggles]

Any news?Have you got the ******* yet or got him to admit he was there?Can I go round and remove his kneecaps?

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I also think the insurers are partly to blame. They put "never accept liability or sign anything at the scene of an accident" all over their literature. Well, it's understandable why they don't want people to accept liability for a 50:50 or non-fault accident while in a state of shock, but at the same time, people refusing to accept liability when they hit you when you're stationary/they rear end you, etc. is extremely frustrating.

In a way yes(ish, very small ish) but the problem is after an accident you really aren't with it at all and you might not have noticed certain details initially, that you then later after clearing your head realise which can potentially change the entire blame of an accident. Also because you are not entirely with it you potentially lend yourself to being persuaded that the accident was your fault so you admit liability.

This is why they say do not admit ANYTHING, do not admit it was your fault, do not admit it wasn't your fault, just get as many details as you can and then let them decide though in cases like this it should be worked out very quickly and all the necessary compensation paid, unfortunately insurance companies are money grabbing *******s and will do anything to wriggle out of paying a claim.

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Any news?Have you got the b*stard yet or got him to admit he was there?Can I go round and remove his kneecaps?

Not yet - I'll give the solicitor a call tomorrow and find out what's happening. It would be very amusing to have a load of bikers turn up at his house and sit outside whilst I knocked on the door and asked him exactly what he is playing at!

I've been told I'll get the bike back at the end of the week, so that's something to look forward to.

I'll keep you informed.

rgds

Originally Posted by rpwoodman

Not yet - I'll give the solicitor a call tomorrow and find out what's happening. It would be very amusing to have a load of bikers turn up at his house and sit outside whilst I knocked on the door and asked him exactly what he is playing at!

I've been told I'll get the bike back at the end of the week, so that's something to look forward to.

I'll keep you informed.

rgds

Cool dude, best of luck, glad you are okay.