Car Insurance Fraud is a serious problem over here in the UK with people intentionally causing crashes with the aim of claiming damages on the car’s insurance and in some cases demanding compensation for fabricated injuries.
In New York people had been going one step further where they were hiring middlemen to “steal” their car and make it disappear so that the owner could get it replaced on their car insurance or get large settlements from the insurers.
New York Police set up a sting operation by putting undercover detectives in a repair shop in Queens where the fraudsters were taking the vehicles that were stolen for destroying.
You may have an image of a shifty looking character as the typical person to commit car insurance fraud but of the 61 people caught out in the sting some included a used car dealer and shockingly a New York Police Officer. The cost of the actions these people were trying to get away with was estimated at $1.7 million and 70 vehicles were brought to the shop in the period of time.
Car insurance Fraud is a big problem over here in the UK too with gangs of people driving with intent to surprise unsuspecting members of the public into getting into crashes. This kind of crime is being clamped down on by the Police liaising with Insurers to ensure that those who are stupid enough to make a habit of it are brought to justice. Car Insurance fraud has been directly linked to the high cost of insurance and dragging our car insurance quotes up in recent years.
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Car Insurance Fraud Sting Catches 61 in New York
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Points to Note If You Need to Make a Claim on UK Car Insurance
Below you will find some helpful tips to assist you if you need to make claim on your UK car insurance in the unfortunate event of having an accident.
Injury
Initially in the first few minutes after a car accident it needs to be established whether anyone is injured in both, your car or, any of the other cars that may have been involved. If somebody is hurt then an ambulance needs to be called for medical assistance at the scene. When it comes to making your accident claim you may have to include any details of the medical assistance required on the medical report.
Notify the Police
This depends on the severity of the incident but you may need to call the police.
24-Hour Assistance
Everyone is obliged, by law, to carry their car insurance documents in their car and there will be a 24-hour contact number on the certificate for you to ring should you be involved in an accident. It is advisable to ring the number and you will then be recommended the best course of action. In the UK there are many different levels of car insurance from third party to fully comprehensive, so the advice that you receive will be based on the cover that you have for your car, by the company that you have policy with, as they can vary slightly.
You must remember when you speak to your insurance company that you ask them for an accident report form. On the whole, the accident report form is largely straight-forward and quite easy to understand, but if you read through it and find it is confusing then ring your insurer and talk through anything that you don’t understand before you fill in and submit the form.
Evidence is always helpful in the event of an Accident
Once you have informed your insurers of the accident it is always a good idea to see if you can collect any evidence. If anyone witnessed the accident take their name and address or take some photographs, even if it is with a mobile phone.
Car Repairs
Any costs incurred for repairs to your vehicle are payable by you unless you have made other arrangements with your insurance company previously. For that reason, it is not recommended to take your car after the accident, to any garage and get it mended as your insurer may not agree to pay for the work that is done. It would far safer to ring up your insurance company and ask them if there is anywhere in particular that they would like you to take the car to have the repair work done.
Keep all Receipts For any Work done
If you want to make a claim but are doubtful that you will be recompensed still always keep any receipts for all the work that is done – this is imperative. Always remember that if you don’t have any record whatsoever of any costs that you don’t stand any chance of reimbursement.
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Car Insurance – Make Filing your Claim Smoother
Almost nothing feels more frustrating than being involved in an accident or having your car stolen, and then having to deal with a tedious claims process.
The procedure for claims after a car accident is supposed to be straightforward. After you make the claim, preferably on a comprehensible form , an adjuster estimates the costs to restore your car and the insurance company writes you a check for that amount. Regrettably, the process isn’t always so simple for millions of people who file claims each year.
Here are some things you can do to get claims settled as fast and as smoothly as possible:
Jot down the setting, time, weather and other aspects of the environment; you don’t know what will be significant later. Keeping a disposable camera in your auto, so you can take photos of the accident scene, is an excellent idea.
If a camera is not available, you can make a rough drawing of damage to vehicles and property, and describe any apparent injuries and other pertinent facts. Acquire and maintain a copy of the police report for yourself as well.
Promptly contact your insurer. The insurance company could negate your policy if you don’t. Be sure to also report in writing to make sure that your rights are protected under law. Verify your policy- identify what coverage you have and don’t have so you know what you can claim. Talk with your agent beforehand about the claims process and what information the company may need. Verify the deadlines as well. Some policies have time limits for each step of the claims’ process.
For stolen cars- report the theft immediately to the police in the city where it was stolen. Have your license plate number and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – located on your car registration ready, if available. You will need to file a stolen vehicle report. If the Registration is also lost along with the vehicle, obtain a duplicate from the Transport Authorities as soon as possible. Then notify your car insurance company immediately. Auto insurance claims for stolen vehicles always take longer to process , because the police are given a reasonable amount of time to locate the stolen car. Keep regular liaison with the police regarding the progress of the investigation. If the vehicle is not traced after a reasonable period, get a report from the police to that effect. If the vehicle is traced, inform the insurance company immediately.
Next monitor your claim: Get your claim number and call the company or claims adjuster for updates. Some insurers let you follow your claim’s status online. Sometimes writing a letter to the adjuster or a supervisor can get the wheels turning faster. Be persistent, but not obnoxious.
And remember, to avoid walking while your claim is being processed-Check rental coverage: If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can get a rental car while yours is in the shop, paid for by the other driver’s company. If the mishap was your fault, you have to have rental reimbursement coverage. If your car was stolen and you have comprehensive insurance, your insurer will probably pay a capped amount each day for a rental.
These tips can help you get through the claims process and back on the road faster.
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