Insurance scams

[Blu]

A friend I know sais...

At work we've noticed a sharp increase in road traffic accidents at roundabouts where one party runs into the back of another.

Crashes at roundabouts are now a serious and persistent menace where motor fraud is concerned.

Deliberately causing low impact crashes at roundabouts then making claims, including whiplash, has become a favourite way for fraudsters to make money from insurers.

With back-end shunts unlikely to cause actual serious injury, fraudsters are taking the risk to con innocent motorists and their insurers out of thousands of pounds.

The favourite trick is to drive onto a roundabout then suddenly stop so the vehicle behind runs into their back. Fraudsters often do it when they are travelling in front of lorries as they think people will assume it was the lorry’s fault. Lorry drivers usually travel alone so have no other witnesses to dispute the facts.

Invariably the driver then puts a claim in for whiplash (for himself and passengers – real or imaginary) and with the average payout for a whiplash claim around £2,000, it’s easy money for those prepared to take the chance.

This is where innocent motorists need to be vigilant. As many mobile phones have cameras, take a picture of the person driving the car you have crashed into and one which shows if anyone else was in the vehicle. Also take photographs of the damage or lack of it. If this isn’t possible make a written note of the facts and inform your insurance company immediately.

So when you're at a roundabout make sure you leave plenty of distance between you and the car in front and don't assume that the car will pull out when it's clear to do so nor should you follow a car if it's starting to move forward. Let it pull away before you start to move forward.
noticed a sharp increase in road traffic accidents at roundabouts where one party runs into the back of another.

Crashes at roundabouts are now a serious and persistent menace where motor fraud is concerned.

Deliberately causing low impact crashes at roundabouts then making claims, including whiplash, has become a favourite way for fraudsters to make money from insurers.

With back-end shunts unlikely to cause actual serious injury, fraudsters are taking the risk to con innocent motorists and their insurers out of thousands of pounds.

The favourite trick is to drive onto a roundabout then suddenly stop so the vehicle behind runs into their back. Fraudsters often do it when they are travelling in front of lorries as they think people will assume it was the lorry’s fault. Lorry drivers usually travel alone so have no other witnesses to dispute the facts.

Invariably the driver then puts a claim in for whiplash (for himself and passengers – real or imaginary) and with the average payout for a whiplash claim around £2,000, it’s easy money for those prepared to take the chance.

This is where innocent motorists need to be vigilant. As many mobile phones have cameras, take a picture of the person driving the car you have crashed into and one which shows if anyone else was in the vehicle. Also take photographs of the damage or lack of it. If this isn’t possible make a written note of the facts and inform your insurance company immediately.

So when you're at a roundabout make sure you leave plenty of distance between you and the car in front and don't assume that the car will pull out when it's clear to do so nor should you follow a car if it's starting to move forward. Let it pull away before you start to move forward.

I have also heard of tales where cars in front of you at junctions or Islands actually REVERSE into you!

[suzota]

If they try that on me, i think they will be claiming for more than wiplash, as the car will be a pile of scrap on the road.

[Daisy]

Ah but if your in reverse regardless of who is deemed to bwe at fault in the eyes of the insurance your to blame.

I found this out to my cost last year as I was reversing towards a space in a hospital carpark and some fool raced towards it and hit the back of my land rover, but when there insurance contacted mine it was me that had to be automaticaly at fault as i was reversing.

Sue

[V8MoneyPit]

Ah but if your in reverse regardless of who is deemed to bwe at fault in the eyes of the insurance your to blame.

I found this out to my cost last year as I was reversing towards a space in a hospital carpark and some fool raced towards it and hit the back of my land rover, but when there insurance contacted mine it was me that had to be automaticaly at fault as i was reversing.

Sue

I have to say, that sounds like a cop out to me. I assume you argued the case? Actually, your insurance company should have fought it for you. That is what you pay them for.

[Dirty Gertie]

About 6 months ago, I had a very suspicious 'shunt' -after very pointedly getting in front of me when leaving a car park; a woman braked sharply 2 car lengths from a clear roundabout and I bumped her; a 'friend' of hers who 'just happened to be there' called an ambulance; despite the fact that the impact was about 5mph. When it arrived the woman suddenly developed a pain in the neck: my insurance company sent a solicitor to see me, and after I told him how fishy the whole thing had appeared to be, I haven't heard another word!

[Jas278]

INSURANCE ALONE, is 1 big scam.........never mind anything else......just my opinion..