10:51am Friday 5th February 2010
THE consortium of seven UK motor insurers, represented by Keoghs, was awarded £300,000 in damages on January 29 this year from 57 members of a crash-for-cash fraud ring following a landmark civil case.
The award comprises the insurers’ losses as a result of the fraud as well as the cost incurred in investigating the claims and bringing the civil action against the fraudsters.
The size of the award was compounded by the addition of £92,000 in exemplary damages – determined by the judge, Mr Justice Holman, as proportionate to the serious nature of the attempted fraud. The ring staged 30 accidents throughout Greater Manchester in the 12 months between October 2005 and October 2006.
The circumstances were the same in every case – the fraudsters stopped suddenly and unexpectedly at a quiet roundabout causing the driver behind to run into the back of their car. Claims were then submitted for both damage to vehicles and personal injuries.
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