[JennineJackson]

Hello,

my partner had a very slow and low impact collision this morning (he was coming to a stop at traffic lights, and his foot slipped off the pedal but he was going no more than 5mph into the back of someone). Both cars had absolutely no visual damage, the other driver said she was just in a little shock but it’s clear there’s no damage. They passed numbers just incase. The other driver called again later this evening and said she’s had her brother in law look at the car and there’s over 2 grand worth of internal damage done to the car. Pictures show no visual damage, not even the dirt from cars were transferred, so we’re really struggling to believe that there’s over 2k worth of damage. Is this possible? How should we handle this? We will be contacting insurance tomorrow, however we’re worried they’re trying to blag it now she’s thought about it. My partner obviously takes full responsibility, and was willing to pay for any damages even though it was extremely unlikely there was any, but now she’s saying over 2 grand worth we’re worried she’s going to lie to the insurance ?

[TC1474]

First lesson learnt, never exchange telephone numbers for the reasons you have now found out.

You are required by law to exchange names and addresses of the drivers of each vehicle, names and addresses of the owners of the vehicle (covers for company owned or hire vehicles) and details of registration marks. That's it for a damage only. You are not required to provide insurance details to anyone in damage only claims.

Next question is did your partner take any photo's of the damage to each vehicle? A picture is worth a thousand words and can substantiate any claims that the level of damage caused is not as bad as being alleged by the third party.

To this end, all you can do is notify your insurers but also tell them that you believe that the third party is making a false or at least an exaggerated claim and ask them to red flag it.

Then next time the third party calls you, do not enter into any conversation, just tell him that the matter has been referred to your insurers and you look forward to receiving your letter of claim from his insurers which you will then pass onto your insurance, and then leave it at that.

Do not enter into any conversation or correspondence, just await the letter of claim and let your insurers sort it out.

The third party are then likely to end up on the Insurance fraud register which in the long term will cost considerably more than a fake damage claim.

[JennineJackson]

I know! They were in the middle of a busy road and just stopped so it wasn’t thought about. He does have images of exterior of car (although she took a picture of hers and said she will send it to us which we are waiting for today) but both agreed there’s absolutely no damage. It’s only now she’s saying that her brother in law has looked over the car and it’s over 2 grand of internal damage so not visible.

We will be calling the insurance today and passing all information and pictures over to them, and flagging it with them. So should I message her our address now rather than his insurance details of which she’s asking for?

[JennineJackson]

@TC1474

I did write a reply but I can’t see it so I’m not sure if it sent -

There is photos, however the girl took photos of her car and said she would send it over. The issue is it’s not external damage she’s claiming, it’s internal. But she said she will send the photos over today. She seems genuine in her responses, however I think there’s someone in her ear encouraging to push for a claim.

she later said that her car is on lease for a year - so should we request the details of the owner? Moving forward, should we message her our address and request hers, for insurance purposes, rather than providing insurance details?
We will be contacting the insurance today and will flag it up with them. Thank you

[TC1474]

Internal damage sounds very suspect, that would raise even more red flags.

If you have your own photo's, send those to your insurers when you give your account.

By law you should have exchanged your name and address with the third party and if she is not the owner, then you will require the owners details.

Given what is now being claimed, yes, exchange details of addresses and do not enter into any further correspondence or conversation, just politely tell her that you are handing the whole matter over to your insurance company to deal with. If you continue with conversation or correspondence you may unwittingly write or say something that can be used against you. Let your insurers deal with all that.

Usually in a matter like this especially when it is red flagged your insurer will appoint a loss adjuster to go and examine the vehicle to compare the level of damage and where it is against the alleged costs, and this is where many claimants suddenly back off because they have been found out. Not uncommon in crash for cash scams.

[JennineJackson]

No worries. Thank you so much for your help!

[olduser]

I was once rammed in a similar way, in this case I was late for an exam, so had a quick look at the back, all looked ok, other car driver was full of apologies, we swapped vehicle numbers, and off we went.

After the exam one of the students commented on me just dashing in at the last moment, I explained.
He told me he worked in a body shop and offered to have a look, he opened the boot and found the boot floor between the spare wheel well and the rear panel had a bump in it.
He said the whole boot floor would have to be changed as this was part of the crumple zone at the rear.
I put it through insurance and that was the outcome, new boot floor.

Moral of the story is, fronts and rears of cars have crumple zones and sometimes they can be damaged yet the exterior has sprung back into place, at the crash you must assume the worst always.

[Rolebama]

I had an AA van written off when I was rear ended on M25. Only damage initially found was bent rear valance, so a new one was ordered. When the van went in for the repair, it was discovered that the floor pan was corrupted. The claim had already been settled with third party's insurer, so AA swallowed the loss of an eighteen month old van with 36,000 miles on the clock.
Bearing this in mind, I would want a bit more than the word of a relative of the third party.