Had a car accident over a year ago and they are claiming now. Do I lose my No Claims

EachSmallChime

I was driving through traffic in Dublin city a year ago and without paying a attention to the road I bumped into the car in front of me. We pulled in and the damage was negligible(only my car was slightly dented). there were 3 men in the car and they all got out and walked around to inspect the vehicles but there was no damage done to their car. The driver seemed nice and we agreed that it was a nothing incident but swapped phone numbers. I didnt bother calling the guards.

A week ago I recieved 3 solicitors letters saying that the 3 men suffered personal injuries, damage and loss. Complete chancers as I would have done more damage if i kicked their bumper.

Since the incident I have changed insurance companies and am currently renewing. Do I have to let my current insurers know that there is a claim processing with an old insurer?

wonski

EachSmallChime wrote: »

I was driving through traffic in Dublin city a year ago and without paying a attention to the road I bumped into the car in front of me. We pulled in and the damage was negligible(only my car was slightly dented). there were 3 men in the car and they all got out and walked around to inspect the vehicles but there was no damage done to their car. The driver seemed nice and we agreed that it was a nothing incident but swapped phone numbers. I didnt bother calling the guards.

A week ago I recieved 3 solicitors letters saying that the 3 men suffered personal injuries, damage and loss. Complete chancers as I would have done more damage if i kicked their bumper.

Since the incident I have changed insurance companies and am currently renewing. Do I have to let my current insurers know that there is a claim processing with an old insurer?

Unfortunately you have to tell them.

Claiming a year after the incident is taking the piss really imo.
Do they have a leg to stand on?

Gazzmonkey

If there is no evidence that an accident took place then deny all

EachSmallChime

I dont really know if they have a leg to stand on if I'm quite honest.
I'm pretty inexperienced with these things.

I would have thought you would need doctors certs etc.

It's also strange that they're not claiming for damage to the car. It seems to be just injuries.

fmcg_scribe

EachSmallChime wrote: »

I was driving through traffic in Dublin city a year ago and without paying a attention to the road I bumped into the car in front of me. We pulled in and the damage was negligible(only my car was slightly dented). there were 3 men in the car and they all got out and walked around to inspect the vehicles but there was no damage done to their car. The driver seemed nice and we agreed that it was a nothing incident but swapped phone numbers. I didnt bother calling the guards.

A week ago I recieved 3 solicitors letters saying that the 3 men suffered personal injuries, damage and loss. Complete chancers as I would have done more damage if i kicked their bumper.

Since the incident I have changed insurance companies and am currently renewing. Do I have to let my current insurers know that there is a claim processing with an old insurer?

Agree that you will have to tell any new insurer what's happening.

Reckon that you will have to contact the insurer that you were using at the time of the accident for advice. Depending on how that conversation goes, you might need your own legal representation.

You were unlucky but in your position I would have taken lots of pics of both cars before leaving the scene of the accident.

Atomic Pineapple

Contact a solicitor asap and get professional advice.

Rory28

sounds very strange OP. maybe check with a solicitor?

fmcg_scribe

wonski wrote: »

Unfortunately you have to tell them.

Claiming a year after the incident is taking the piss really imo.
Do they have a leg to stand on?

I'm inclined to agree but it seem that personal injuries claims can be raised up to 2 (possibly more) years after accidents.

CarrickMcJoe

Also report it to the garda fraud squad. As previously stated, why are they not claiming for car damage.

fmcg_scribe

EachSmallChime wrote: »

I dont really know if they have a leg to stand on if I'm quite honest.
I'm pretty inexperienced with these things.

I would have thought you would need doctors certs etc.

It's also strange that they're not claiming for damage to the car. It seems to be just injuries.

Vehicle damage claims and personal injury claims are separate.

Kimbot

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

Vehicle damage claims and personal injury claims are separate.

What injuries could they have from a car with no damage tho?

Mr E

PTSD?

Contact a solicitor... I expect they don't have a leg to stand on.

fmcg_scribe

jonny24ie wrote: »

What injuries could they have from a car with no damage tho?

OP can confirm what solicitors' letters claim but I suspect that whiplash is top of the list.

CarrickMcJoe

Same happened my wife years ago, She was in wrong, no damage to their 4x4, 2 guys said they were fine etc. 2 weeks later get solicitors letters claiming for head, neck, back and leg injuries.
Went to a solicitor only to be told, Well, these injuries have a way of manifesting themselves over a few days. Sorry, but solicitor's are all the same imo.
Don't know how much they got and never want to know, just wished them to have an accident where they will have said injuries!

PrettyBoy

Sounds like a few low life pricks chancing their arm.

Get a solicitor, contact the garda fraud squad.

vibe666

Mr E wrote: »

PTSD?

Contact a solicitor... I expect they don't have a leg to stand on.

sounds like they all lost their legs in that horrific accident! :eek:

EachSmallChime

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

OP can confirm what solicitors' letters claim but I suspect that whiplash is top of the list.

It just says personal injuries, loss and damage

fmcg_scribe

EachSmallChime wrote: »

It just says personal injuries, loss and damage

Sounds like an ambulance chasing lawyer trying it on. That's such a vague list - it's worth challenging.

mgbgt1978

It's the Insurance company who will either challenge it or pay up.
The Op will have no choice in the matter.

doolox

I've been hit twice from behind but never had any problem body wise so I was lucky. The first guy would not pay the VAT on the garage bill and since the VAT element was €90 I did not consider worth chasing up on. I stlll got 500 for a 590 repair bill from him. The second was a bump in the back while lights were being tested on the Stillorgan Road while under Garda points man control
In the middle of the sequence the red lights suddenly came on but the guard was giving ongoing traffic the go ahead. I slammed on the brakes, momentarily confused and was struck from behind. The guard pulled us in and informed me that a guards HAND SIGNALS supercedes any light signals but he was understanding of my error telling me to remember that in future. THe lady who hit me was most insistant on getting off to her destination, was harried flustered and indignant but had to wait after twice challenging the guard and demanding to be let go on her way. The disciple from Templemore was having none of it and told her in no uncertain terms to pull in and WAIT until he had dealt with "this gentleman"and he would deal with HER in good time. I was asked to produce my licence and insurance at a Garda station of my choice within 7 days and that would be the end of the matter.

I do not know what became of her but I got a very nervous call a day later inquiring if a claim was to be made as she needed to know for her company. I said no. Obviously she had been educated who was right and who was wrong in the traffic laws here, in that you can never be hit from behind and get away with it no matter how stupid the driver in front of you is. You have to drive at a speed at which you can stop in the space you can see to be clear ahead of you. The old chestnut of "expecting the unexpected" also comes into play.

dulpit

I had a tip last year, similar to yourself OP ran into the back of car ahead of me at very slow speed. No damage done to cars, other than my number plate was slightly cracked. Forgot all about it, a few months later got a letter from solicitor, the back seat passenger was claiming for personal injury. There were 3 others in the car (including a baby who slept through the whole thing), and only 1 person claiming. It's dragged on and on, she's not settled with insurance, went to the injuries board and she didn't settle there either so will end up in the courts I think.

Pain in the hole, it will affect your no claims. What I was told at the time was that unless there is overwhelming evidence to suggest fraud the insurance companies will nearly always settle, as it's next to impossible to disprove pain. Think they also said at the time that you have 2 years after an accident to claim, so I don't think they are doing anything illegal at this point.

I'd just get onto the insurance company and leave them settle it. It's going to cost you, but that's the compo culture that seems to have sprung up in Ireland.

anthony4335

You cannot always tell how injured you are after an incident as often any injury may be masked by adrenaline and some injuries do not show until inflammation has subsided. I have seen where someone got tipped from behind, car looked to be cosmetic but after a couple of days the injuries set in and nearly 10 years later the lasting effect are still evident in the person.
So it really is a case of never judge a book by its cover. Like you have been told seek legal advice straight away advise your previous insurance company, as they will be the ones dealing with it.
However a personal opinion is they are pulling a fast one, a year later and all three are claiming.