Think I’ve been involved in a staged traffic accident.
Discussion
In twenty odd years of driving I’ve never had to use my insurance or caused an own fault accident.. however today that changed.
Before this turns into a rant or finger pointing I’d like to make it clear I’m wording this post with a bit of care. I’m also well aware that the bottom line is: I rear ended someone.. regardless of the situation – its my fault. But after looking at the damage, the photos I took of the road and the behaviour of the people involved + the witness, the penny has started to drop.
Mid morning in the rain:
4 mid 20-something lads in a very well-to-do area, in a very cheap car – English not being their first language. Driving the car infront of me, braked hard very to let another out of junction at the very last moment – I saw this happening and started to slow down too. However their car then hit the breaks again but this time ‘like a brake test’ and swerved… I too locked up – anti lock kicked in I swerved to avoid but they were then turning across my path. I just clipped their rear quarter but due to the size of my vehicle it popped their rear screen – it looked a right mess (although didn’t trigger my air bags – it really was only a tap)
Quick as a flash all 4 four lads are in the road holding their necks.
I rounded them up and got them out of the road making sure each was fine.
Now it gets odd:
Passenger speaks first - starts apologising saying they didn’t get any of the details for the car that cut infront of them – However I knew it was already long gone and I was kicking myself.
The driver didn’t give a care in the world about his car. I was gutted (even though I only need a few lights and a bit of light bodywork). The whole situation was just upsetting – although non of them seemed to have the same reaction as me.
A witness now strolled up – without thinking, my very first words to the driver were: Was he in your car too?!… coinsidence maybe.. but he didn’t want to talk to me, just point his finger at me. Great I thought but took his name and number anyway. The reason for my initial comment on spotting the new face was simply because he looked just like the four other guys and I wondered where he sprang from.
I called the police just for my own sake and to tell someone about the glass in the road. Last thing I wanted was a charge for ‘leaving the scene’. They weren’t fussed and told me to make my way home if I could.
Fast forward an hour or two – I have a quick chat with my insurance people then call the driver back just to check hes got all the details he needs off me… surprise surprise all four of them are down the hospital.
The part that really didn’t sit well with me was: why didn’t my evasive action get me clear of the emergency braking car infront? I know my vehicle extremely well, I know I was paying full attention.
After looking at my photos – he swerved in my direction – so much so that the glass from the windscreen had fall across the white lines of the T junction swerved my vehicle into to miss him. That shouldn’t have happened if he was driving rationally. The damage on the corners of the both our vehicles reflects this.
But long and the short – its my word against 5.. nobody got the details of the mystery 3rd car. I rear ended them – end of.
Its just dawned on me this is a prefect scam I fell straight into it didn’t I? The double bluff brake test caught me out and I was too close after the first slowing incident.
Is it even worth me rasing my suspicions?
Before this turns into a rant or finger pointing I’d like to make it clear I’m wording this post with a bit of care. I’m also well aware that the bottom line is: I rear ended someone.. regardless of the situation – its my fault. But after looking at the damage, the photos I took of the road and the behaviour of the people involved + the witness, the penny has started to drop.
Mid morning in the rain:
4 mid 20-something lads in a very well-to-do area, in a very cheap car – English not being their first language. Driving the car infront of me, braked hard very to let another out of junction at the very last moment – I saw this happening and started to slow down too. However their car then hit the breaks again but this time ‘like a brake test’ and swerved… I too locked up – anti lock kicked in I swerved to avoid but they were then turning across my path. I just clipped their rear quarter but due to the size of my vehicle it popped their rear screen – it looked a right mess (although didn’t trigger my air bags – it really was only a tap)
Quick as a flash all 4 four lads are in the road holding their necks.
I rounded them up and got them out of the road making sure each was fine.
Now it gets odd:
Passenger speaks first - starts apologising saying they didn’t get any of the details for the car that cut infront of them – However I knew it was already long gone and I was kicking myself.
The driver didn’t give a care in the world about his car. I was gutted (even though I only need a few lights and a bit of light bodywork). The whole situation was just upsetting – although non of them seemed to have the same reaction as me.
A witness now strolled up – without thinking, my very first words to the driver were: Was he in your car too?!… coinsidence maybe.. but he didn’t want to talk to me, just point his finger at me. Great I thought but took his name and number anyway. The reason for my initial comment on spotting the new face was simply because he looked just like the four other guys and I wondered where he sprang from.
I called the police just for my own sake and to tell someone about the glass in the road. Last thing I wanted was a charge for ‘leaving the scene’. They weren’t fussed and told me to make my way home if I could.
Fast forward an hour or two – I have a quick chat with my insurance people then call the driver back just to check hes got all the details he needs off me… surprise surprise all four of them are down the hospital.
The part that really didn’t sit well with me was: why didn’t my evasive action get me clear of the emergency braking car infront? I know my vehicle extremely well, I know I was paying full attention.
After looking at my photos – he swerved in my direction – so much so that the glass from the windscreen had fall across the white lines of the T junction swerved my vehicle into to miss him. That shouldn’t have happened if he was driving rationally. The damage on the corners of the both our vehicles reflects this.
But long and the short – its my word against 5.. nobody got the details of the mystery 3rd car. I rear ended them – end of.
Its just dawned on me this is a prefect scam I fell straight into it didn’t I? The double bluff brake test caught me out and I was too close after the first slowing incident.
Is it even worth me rasing my suspicions?
Steamer said:
Is it even worth me rasing my suspicions?
Yes. Even if not for your benefit- a group this organised wouldn't do this just once. If people notice a pattern forming they can take action.Maybe... just maybe... someone's raised suspicions about one of these people before.
If the three of the four lads have had a dozen accidents in the year where they were "victims", even the most apathetic company would start to take note.
Eighteeteewhy said:
Quite possibly. I remember something on the news a short while back. Were they Polish by any chance?
thanks for Reading all that - it was partly just to get things straight in my own head. No not polish, Asian lads. Just didn't want anyone to think I was making a big issue of that detail.
This whole situation does scream scam doesnt it? It doesnt even sound particularly well orchestrated. Dodgy driving, all four holding their necks and then the planted witness? Classic.
Old cheap disposable car? Tick
Well-to-do area meaning everybodies insured so theres someone to claim off? Tick
Im sure at the time though its difficult to see that with so many other things running through your mind but i reckon if you were able to watch it back it'd have scam written all over it.
Old cheap disposable car? Tick
Well-to-do area meaning everybodies insured so theres someone to claim off? Tick
Im sure at the time though its difficult to see that with so many other things running through your mind but i reckon if you were able to watch it back it'd have scam written all over it.
Its very funny you should mention that, because only a few days ago an indian bloke tucked infront of me, effectively stealing my stopping distance, and then did a full on emergency stop, for a yellow light, which was 10 metres away.
I'm wondering if it was an attempt at an insurance scam, or simply bad driving. He had his daughter in the back, so I doubt it was a scam.
I'm wondering if it was an attempt at an insurance scam, or simply bad driving. He had his daughter in the back, so I doubt it was a scam.
Sounds like a scam to me, had a very simular situation not long ago, car went to pull out of a juncition, me behind, goes to pull out then slams his breaks on, i tap his rear bumer at about 1mph, after a long 7 month fight with my and his insurance company, he decides he all of a sudden has wiplash and gets signed off by a doctor, the accident being the cause, even though it was 7 months ago, i then loose my no claims and he gets a pay out.
The funny thing was the wiplash came about after my insurance told him they are no way going to pay out for vehicle damage as there is none.......
The funny thing was the wiplash came about after my insurance told him they are no way going to pay out for vehicle damage as there is none.......
Sorry for the Friday night spelling ect. Vodka is helping mend the dented pride!
Trouble is, looking at if from the other side of the fence - who's to say my photo of a pile of glass in a seemingly odd place on the road wasn't taken after the event?
Plus how easy would it be for all 5 of them to say I was speeding or picking my nose? Risking my own insurance not covering my claim possibly?!
I don't care if you drive the biggest pile of S on the road - you would still show some kind of emotion towards either, it, or the trouble that being without your car is going to cause? All this was mssing from the drivers reaction. But I'm guessing insurance co.s just laugh at observations like that?
Plus it really was the passenger running the show on his behalf.
Trouble is, looking at if from the other side of the fence - who's to say my photo of a pile of glass in a seemingly odd place on the road wasn't taken after the event?
Plus how easy would it be for all 5 of them to say I was speeding or picking my nose? Risking my own insurance not covering my claim possibly?!
I don't care if you drive the biggest pile of S on the road - you would still show some kind of emotion towards either, it, or the trouble that being without your car is going to cause? All this was mssing from the drivers reaction. But I'm guessing insurance co.s just laugh at observations like that?
Plus it really was the passenger running the show on his behalf.
If I am ever involved in an accident (20 years without so far), I will get out with my video camera rolling if I'm able to. If this is where we're at, these are sobering times we live in.
Good luck, but I would ask your insurance company for legal advice, this sounds very well planned and you are going to need it.
Good luck, but I would ask your insurance company for legal advice, this sounds very well planned and you are going to need it.
Steamer said:
Trouble is, looking at if from the other side of the fence - who's to say my photo of a pile of glass in a seemingly odd place on the road wasn't taken after the event?
Plus how easy would it be for all 5 of them to say I was speeding or picking my nose? Risking my own insurance not covering my claim possibly?!
Then they would require a small something known as evidence. If you were on your phone, picking your nose or window shopping then you wouldn't have even applied the brakes before you hit them, for example. The limited nature of the damage to your vehicle suggests you werent speeding (or going particularly quickly at all).Plus how easy would it be for all 5 of them to say I was speeding or picking my nose? Risking my own insurance not covering my claim possibly?!
Insurance companies pay their lawyers a fair few quid, they're not that stupid
From your description it sounds like a classic scam. It would make sense for the passenger to run the show as the "organiser" - he wouldn't want to be the driver every time or it would arouse suspicion.
Your only hope is to raise your suspicions with the insurance and police because it will be your word against their word, and there is a convenient witness to back their version of events up.
Sorry to hear it happened to you and I hope it gets sorted.
Your only hope is to raise your suspicions with the insurance and police because it will be your word against their word, and there is a convenient witness to back their version of events up.
Sorry to hear it happened to you and I hope it gets sorted.
TheEnd said:
Pity you couldn't do a double bluff.
As soon as it happens, get a minibus full of people to shoot round to the scene, and reverse into the Nissan Micra or whatever they had.
I keep a Minibus full of ginger disabled school children on call just in case I ever need it in this situation. As soon as it happens, get a minibus full of people to shoot round to the scene, and reverse into the Nissan Micra or whatever they had.
Steamer said:
...Its just dawned on me this is a prefect scam I fell straight into it didn’t I?...
Is it even worth me rasing my suspicions?
Absolutely it is worth you raising your suspicions, given that you say the guys were mid-20s. Far too old to be pulling a prefect scam! Is it even worth me rasing my suspicions?
I'll get my coat.
All joking aside though, I think you should speak with your insurance co and the police, give a very detailed statement. I am sure the insurance companies will be eager to do all they can to weed out these types of inflated claims.
EDLT said:
What would they do if you told them you were not insured?
That's very good point actually. Would be interesting to see their reaction!I reckon in this situation a quiet word with the driver and an offer of a couple of hundred cash to fix the damage would settle things. In a genuine (i.e. not set up) rear ender would most of us not be prepared to do this anyway to save a recorded claim?
Ok, you know these guys are taking the piss, and on second thoughts it is one less claim to be investigated and one less chance of them being caught were you to settle cash.
Besides, I could still see them pursuing a claim and denying receipt of any cash settlement.
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