Bloody ambulance chasers!

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Denbighshire
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How do.

About 3 weeks ago, my wife (with me in the passenger seat) bumped into the back of another car driven by a 22yr old bloke. It was early morning, heavy rain and approaching a renowned black-spot roundabout.

We had slowed down to approx 10mph, preparing to stop due to traffic at the roundabout when the car in front stopped suddenly. He said it was due to the car in front of him stopping sharply.

Anyway, we ran into him at literaly 8ish mph. We had begun braking but we either skidded on the wet road or the brakes were wet - either way, we went into him. Airbags didn't go off. We hardly moved forward in our seats.

After the bump, we both turned off onto a side street to check each other over. He said he was fine - just a bit shaken. There was a small dent in his rear bumper (old fiesta). He said he wasn't bothered about claiming off us as he was getting rid of the car next week (not sure if he was selling it or scrapping) and he wasn't bothered about the dent. He didn't want our insurance details but I gave him my mobile number just incase. He drove off fine.

Our car (3yr old Peugeot 206) on the other hand needed a new bonnet, new headlights and front grille. Garage costs of £800! (bloody crumple zones!)

Got a phone call that night from the guys mother - his dad had gone ballistic with him because he hadn't taken any details. He insisted the car be inspected by specialist and that the lad be checked over by a doc!

Anyhoo, recieved a letter today from their solicitors claiming Loss of earnings due to bad whiplash and damaged shoulder, medical expenses, cost of hire car to replace fiesta (@£35 per day!) which will continue to be hired until we pay up, interest on damages, cost to repair or replace car and "any further costs that may arise" Letter also implied that the car had not yet been inspected by the specialist and the guy had not seen the doc.

Never been involved in something like this. What should we do? We've forwarded the letters to the insurance company. Fairly sure the claims are a load of crap. I've texted the lad (less potentially confrontational that a phone call/letter) to ask if he's ok and that my wife is really upset that she could have hurt him after we've read that he's been off work.

he replied that he was on the mend and that she shouldnt worry.

After almost 3 weeks!

From a wee bump!

Wife accepts that she was at fault (too close for weather conditions...) but disputes the claims of damages!

gah! :rolleyes:
 
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I was involved in an accident 20yrs ago and had a similar experience.

Leave it in the hands of the insurance company they'll deal with it.

Do NOT contact the other party by any means (phone, text or letter) any corrspondence should be sent on to insurance company.


My accident involved a child running out and hitting the side of my car and getting knocked over.

There were minor injuries to child and police were involved.

No charges were brought against me but I had what I would call a threatening letter from the parent's solicitors - claiming my negligence etc etc.
 
I had a similar situation a few years ago. Two young guys racing their cars, one smashed into the side of mine (I was pulling out from a junction with traffic lights and he had obviously went through a red light cos I was on green!). I was really shaken up, as was my mum. The guy threatened to "fill me in" at the time cos I asked him what the hell he thought he was doing.

Police were called, guys mate had went and parked his car up in a car park and jumped into the passenger side of this guys car. Cops knew they'd been racing cos he said the bonnet was "red hot and ready to melt".

About three weeks later, I got a call from one of these Accident Claim places maintaining that he was injured and wanted to claim off me. I told them point blank and straight that he was not in any way injured at the time of the accident, he was asked if he was injured which he said he wasn't and it seemed terribly convenient that he was all of a sudden injured and I was not entertaining ANY claim on his part.

Never heard a dickie bird from them again.

One thing though - you have to watch what you've put in writing - text or letter - if there is ANYTHING that makes out that you are accepting responsibility for any injuries, then you don't have a leg to stand on.

I'd go back to my insurance company and tell them that, at the time of the accident, he was asked if he was injured and he said no, you've asked him since the accident and he said he was fine, but suddenly, having taken advice from his father, he has an injury and you find it most peculiar that an injury has suddenly shown up three weeks after a very MINOR bump and you're not accepting his account of damage or injury.

And let us know how you go.
 
Thanks for that, guys.

Suddenly having panics over the text message I sent to the lad. Made sure it had no admissions of liability in it so it shouldn't be taken as such...

Oh well, too late now to take it back. :rolleyes:
 
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Don't have any form of communication with him/his dad or mum.
Foward any letters or requests to your insurance. Tell them all the details regarding accident and what was said/happened immediatly alfter.
If he tries to follow an injury claim, let the insurers argue, thats what you pay them for. There have all wised up to these ambulance chasing no win no fee claims and will drag it out for years if needs must.
 
Yeah, i've just written a detailed, accurate letter to our insurers explaining everything that happened, including Alison556s' point about the amazing, appearing injury :rolleyes: .

Having read it through, it does all sound fairly Tuna-scented.

I've also included a verbatim reproduction of the text conversation with the guy. Figure if I give insurers all the information, they can go from there.

Cheers, folks. I'll keep you updated. :D
 
Let the insurers handle it and have no contact with the other party or their relatives whatsoever.

Its the one time you'll get real benefit for your insurance premiums so make the most of it. ;)

Good luck.

MW
 
I wonder if the Fiesta was insured in the old man's name. Now insurance companies are very interested in that sort of thing.
 
I was involved in an accident 20yrs ago and had a similar experience. My accident involved a child running out and hitting the side of my car and getting knocked over.

There were minor injuries to child and police were involved.

No charges were brought against me but I had what I would call a threatening letter from the parent's solicitors - claiming my negligence etc etc.

I had exactly the same thing in 1990. I knocked over a boy who had run across the road without even looking. I had seen him and had slowed almost to a halt. His knee caught my o/s headlamp & cracked it.

His mother, a teacher at his primary, stood in the gutter screaming at him, "HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE GREEN CROSS FU*KING CODE??"

The police arrived in literally 30secs. The guy told me there was no need to breathalyse me as it was obvious I had not been drinking. He looked at the road & surmised I had not been speeding, so I was free to go.

However, there were no witnesses, and my insurance company suspended my NCD. Effectively I was back to zero for so many years (forgotten how many exactly) pending a possible claim by the kid. He has until the "age of majority" to do so. He was 11 at the time. Bummer.

I later rang the hospital to ask how he was.

"Who are you?" asked the nurse.

"The driver" I told her.

"He's fine, no thanks to you."

Charming.
 
The insurers will deal with the claim, and you have given them (via the insurance contract) the authority to act on your behalf in the best interests of the company and yourself.

It's probably a very minor incident to the insurers - one of 100's that day, so it will be looked at and dealt with on a commercial basis.

If you hit someone from behind, then you are most likely at fault, and the insurers will now have to admit liability and limit their losses. Rather than fight a protracted argument and increase costs, they will admit and settle on best terms. It may mean that subject to reasonable evidence, that they will meet the other party's claim.

Reasonable hire costs, time off work, doctors fees and other expenses will all be claimable, and as long as these are 'reasonable' then the insurers will have to pay.

Just let the insurers deal with it. Give them your evidence and answer any future questions. But bare in mind that although the kid told you he was OK, if a doctor later looks at him and the kid says he has an 'aching neck' the the doctor will say he's not OK - and the doctors opinion counts, not yours.

Its a common thing for people to exaggerate their claims, and unless the claim is worth £000's then the insurers don't delve too much. Nothing you can do but try and forget about it and move on.
 
Anyway, we ran into him at literaly 8ish mph.

Our car (3yr old Peugeot 206) on the other hand needed a new bonnet, new headlights and front grille. Garage costs of £800! (b****y crumple zones!)

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Dont police consider tailgaiting to be dangerous driving.

A BMW went into the back of me (chisick high rd) at about 4/5 mph. I didnt even bother getting out. (company van :D ) Certainly no damage to either vehicle.

Going too fast in 'bad conditions and in a known black spot' I cant see where your argument is, and to think the other driver probably has to pay 10 times the ammount you do for insurance because he is considered 'high risk!' :rolleyes:
 
its dog eat dog these days unfortunately. you have to leave it to the insurers.

seeing as the young lad is being coerced into claiming against you i would make him out to be a liar and con man.

rob884 assumes that you were 1 foot off his bumper or something but dont always assume that a rear ender like yours will mean you automatically get the blame. i helped a young lad get his rear ender turned into 50/50 knock because i had video evidence of the scene and was very comprehensive with my "testimony". the insurance assessor was highly amused by my footage of the claimant checking under his car for damage while his lardy loud mouth wife was gobbing off about court cases. the bloke didnt get a penny for his supposed whiplash.

in reality it doesnt really matter who was at fault when it comes to your future insurance as its the fact that you have been in an accident that will put your premium up, not who was to blame, they dont care about that.
 
There were minor injuries

Coal dust in his eye? ;)


I had an old boy run into the back of me in December after I stopped to turn right.
He was sure it wasn't his fault and that he hadn't cracked my bumper. I now have a shiny new bumper courtesy of his insurence company. I didn't claim for loss of earnings/damages ect as they're wasn't any.
 
Sounds like they have seen the latest no win no fee jump on the bangwagon advert on t.v..

They are out to milk you/your insurers for every penny.

Send a detailed report to your insurers and solicitors.

I feel sorry for the lad..he sounds genuine enough. he parents are probably member of the 'rent a writ' appreciation society though.

I hate people like that almost as much as I hate the people who take their cases on...hired guns.

BTW 'no win no fee' also means the company will only back a dead cert result..if theres to much graft involved or a chance of them losing they wont touch it.

Horrible people whom I would **** in their mouths if their back theeth were on fire!

I hope you come out of this ok..
 
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