Motor Car accident and claim

add27

Registered User
Messages
13
Hi,

Maybe someone can advise.

A few weeks ago we were involved in a minor car accident. There was a pile up in front of us on a dual carraigeway, and the car suddenly, and we didn't stopped in time and banged the car in front, but were not involved in the car pile up in front.

No injuries to anyone not any visible damage to either car. We swapped details including insurance. The other driver insisted that the gardai come to take details ( they were on wait to other crash as those cars were undrivable), although we wanted to get our three kids off the carraige way, as it happened in the fast lane, whcih was now blocked.

Cops came, took details etc, as nobody injured and no visible damage, advised to swap info as we already done, and to get moving on the carraigeway. Both cars left.

We advised our insurance company, who came to look at our car, and take our story the next day.


Today, we got a solictors letter, that the other driver is putting a claim for injury and car damages in. We have passed this to our insurance company.

What happens now? Will the ins company just pay out without telling us, and the screw us over for next year premium?
 
Contact your company directly and ask them how they intend progressing this claim. It's generally accepted that when a car drives into the back of another the car behind is at fault. However the company approach will depend on the circumstances of the accident reports and they should be in a position to advise you of their intentions.
 
Hi,

Thanks.

We accept that we hit the car, but shocked to see a claim in for personal injuries and damages to the car (10yrs old) for a minor tip. Maybe I'm just naive.
 
Culture of greed and claim embelishment amongst our fellow citizens never ceases to amaze me. It appears to be unique to ireland and the UK in respect of issues like this.
 
Culture of greed and claim embelishment amongst our fellow citizens never ceases to amaze me. It appears to be unique to ireland and the UK in respect of issues like this.

Supported in no small way by the no-foal no-fee culture and advertising of the firms that specialize in PI work
 
My wife has handed the letter to the insurance company. We'll wait and see what will happen.

Obviously, if the claim is paid out, we will lose NCB and premimum go up. Any one experience in how much is typical or is there any set guides or trends in such an event?
 
Hi All... please don't be so "quick" to judge on this... I accept that there is a "compo culture" that is out there... but not everyone is like that... a little "bang" can cause issues, even if it's just cosmetic.. & even getting a bumper sprayed can cost a few hundred euros...

What happens now is that your insurance company will send someone out to check their car... regarding "personal injuries"... this is where the fun begins... doctors / "specialists" etc...

Re this culture - not just in Ireland / UK - rampant in the U.S. also...
 
The GF tipped into the back of a 15 year old micra at about 15-20 kph a few years back. Zero damage to her car. The micra had very minimal damage. There were 2 adults and 3 kids in the car.

They refused to meet insurance company's medical rep, refused to talk to insurance company, and refused to allow insurance company look at their car for over 6 weeks after the tip.. It was referred to piab, who they refused to see. Anyway, 2 years later and they've pocketed 250k euro between them.. Absolutely shocking..
 
It was referred to piab, who they refused to see. Anyway, 2 years later and they've pocketed 250k euro between them.. Absolutely shocking..
Did you get to see what exactly their 'injuries' were and how the 250k was broken down between them? It's hard to see how they managed to pull this off if claims are based on the book of quantum guidelines...although I guess they claimed for 'all the right things'.
 
Did you get to see what exactly their 'injuries' were and how the 250k was broken down between them? It's hard to see how they managed to pull this off if claims are based on the book of quantum guidelines...although I guess they claimed for 'all the right things'.


They originally went to a doctor on Manor st. who pretty much said there was nothin wrong with them, except for the father, who couldnt be seen by piab because he had a claim in against dublin bus, where he had been a driver, for a back injury. He claimed of the gf, saying their tip made his back worse. He got 130k alone, and from what i read in the Evening herald he got compensation from the Dublin bus crash.. The kids apparantly were afraid to go out of the house, having nightmares, and had to be moved up the front of the class because they couldnt see the black board! Unbelievable stuff!

It was a complete scandal, and as far as we're concerned, the insurance company didnt really care, they didnt do near enough to disprove this fraud..
 
They originally went to a doctor on Manor st. who pretty much said there was nothin wrong with them, except for the father, who couldnt be seen by piab because he had a claim in against dublin bus, where he had been a driver, for a back injury. He claimed of the gf, saying their tip made his back worse. He got 130k alone, and from what i read in the Evening herald he got compensation from the Dublin bus crash.
I wonder was that the total incl. of his Dublin Bus claim? Hard to imagine how he could pull that off if they're supposed to go by the book of quantum guidelines? ....and particularly if he already had a claim in for a related injury.
It was a complete scandal, and as far as we're concerned, the insurance company didnt really care, they didnt do near enough to disprove this fraud..
Well, I would imagine, the insurance companies don't really give a fiddlers most of the time - as they just average it all out - and the rest of us pay for it! Similarly, it's gravy for the legal profession - so no incentive for them to reform the whole process.

Although having said that, in the case of some injuries, it's difficult for them to disprove them.
 
I wonder was that the total incl. of his Dublin Bus claim? Hard to imagine how he could pull that off if they're supposed to go by the book of quantum guidelines? ....and particularly if he already had a claim in for a related injury.


Cant answer you about the quantum guidelines, but the 130k was from this one accident, it didnt include the Dublin bus claim..

As far as disproving the injuries, there has to be some credence given to the mechanism of injury.. How can a honda civic cause this amount of injury without even cracking the plastic bumper?

I suppose its very hard to disprove the injuries when they point blank refused to be examined by any medical officer from the GF's insurance company..
 
As far as disproving the injuries, there has to be some credence given to the mechanism of injury.. How can a honda civic cause this amount of injury without even cracking the plastic bumper?

Very hard to prove/disprove in the case of anything to do with the spine/neck, etc. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much for someone to develop injuries from what seems like a minor tip whilst someone else can walk away what might have been a horrendous crash. However, not even cracking the plastic bumper?:eek: ...there would have had to be some type of settlement regardless - but under those circumstances, it's hard to comprehend an outcome like that!

I suppose its very hard to disprove the injuries when they point blank refused to be examined by any medical officer from the GF's insurance company..
Well, presumably they had taken advice on that - but I think it's reasonable to assume that they would have been examined by a specialist appointed by your GF's insurance company at some stage during the process.
 
Well, presumably they had taken advice on that - but I think it's reasonable to assume that they would have been examined by a specialist appointed by your GF's insurance company at some stage during the process.

We were trying for a long time to get the Insurance company to contest the claims, but everytime we talked to the claims officer they told us more unbelieveable stuff about the case.. Eventually we had to stop calling as the anger and frustration was just too much.. So i'm not sure what actually happened in the year previous to the payout..
 
As far as disproving the injuries, there has to be some credence given to the mechanism of injury.. How can a honda civic cause this amount of injury without even cracking the plastic bumper?
.

Sounds like the family managed to take your insurance company for a ride alright. In relation to the above quote, i had a car drive into the back of me while i was stationary. I was in a Golf, car shunted forward quite significantly but no damage except for the light above the number plat cracked (a whole £4.99 to repair, lol!) but i suffered pretty nasty injuries. I had my foot on the clutch and brake ready to pull away so my left side was under tension, when i was hit my body went forward and resulted in tearign every muscle in my neck, shoulder and upper body on the left hand side. Also got whiplash (still suffer from weakened neck, 'freeze' headaches), partially dislocated shoulder (resulted in long term bursitis), and a nasty knock to the knee on the steering column. All this from no visible damages to the car. I am trying to claim back my medical expenses (I was in the UK and paid for physio etc. to speed up recovery and return to work) but the other party is disputing everything......
 
Hi,

Maybe someone can advise.

A few weeks ago we were involved in a minor car accident. There was a pile up in front of us on a dual carraigeway, and the car suddenly, and we didn't stopped in time and banged the car in front, but were not involved in the car pile up in front.

No injuries to anyone not any visible damage to either car. We swapped details including insurance. The other driver insisted that the gardai come to take details ( they were on wait to other crash as those cars were undrivable), although we wanted to get our three kids off the carraige way, as it happened in the fast lane, whcih was now blocked.

Cops came, took details etc, as nobody injured and no visible damage, advised to swap info as we already done, and to get moving on the carraigeway. Both cars left.

We advised our insurance company, who came to look at our car, and take our story the next day.


Today, we got a solictors letter, that the other driver is putting a claim for injury and car damages in. We have passed this to our insurance company.

What happens now? Will the ins company just pay out without telling us, and the screw us over for next year premium?


As far as I know, an insurance company can settle a claim on your policy without your consent or knowledge.
 
...Will the ins company just pay out without telling us, and the screw us over for next year premium?

Probably Yes to both questions! That would concern me more than what the other 'injured' parties got out of it.

It seems that many minor car park prangs are now followed by claims and insurance companies are settling rather than taking the risk of losing in court.

I was rear ended about 9 years ago and I was fine but got a call from my insurance company local office manager that evening. I was very impressed as I had not had time to report the accident, and he said he was nearby and could he call and see me. He called and looked at the car (which was an insurance write off) and then revealed the driver was connected to a relative of his!!:( I told him I did not think much of him calling to me on false pretences and queried his motives in calling. He was offended! I went to my GP next morning and she asked me was I in pain? No, said I and she looked at me as if to say why was I there then? I had no intention of claiming and didn't. Slim
 
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