Busted: Rs3.7m Whiplash Scam

LONDON, England - Shocking video footage captured the moment a Ford Galaxy MPV swerved in the path of truck travelling along the M25 in England. Despite not being at fault, four neck-whiplash claims were filed leaving the haulier with a potential claim of as much as Rs3.7-million.

CASH FOR CRASH SCAM

The occupants of the Galaxy blamed the truck driver for the crash even though they had crossed three lanes and driven into his path. They had hoped to make a fortune in compensation for their injuries. Fortunately the truck driver had a Smart Witness camera fitted to his dashboard.

Reviewing the footage, it was revealed that the driver of the MPV caused the crash and the dispute was dismissed within days.

In the video released by Smart Witness, the Galaxy can be seen driving past the truck, which was travelling in the slow lane of the motorway at 88.5km/h - well within the 112km/h speed limit. The MPV reacts too slowly to vehicles ahead of it and ultimately collided with the truck. Since the Galaxy had been hit from behind by the truck, the occupants pressed ahead with their whiplash claims.

TARGETED BY FRAUDSTERS

Smart Witness managing director Simon Marsh said they had seen a surge in demand for its products due to drivers hoping to protect themselves against bogus whiplash claims.

Marsh said: "This is real problem, particularly for hauliers and fleet managers who are running large numbers of vehicles and could be targeted by these fraudsters every week. This new video perfectly illustrates the problems responsible motorists face.

"The truck driver was travelling well within the speed limit when the people carrier swerved directly in front of him to avoid hitting another car in the fast lane. The haulier was very surprised to be on the receiving end of a four whiplash claims for Rs3.7-million.

"Drivers can often feel like they are on shaky ground when they go into the back of another vehicle, particularly if there are no reliable witness to explain what happened. Blame is nearly always attached to the driver who hits the vehicle from the rear."

UK - WHIPLASH CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Around 550 000 whiplash claims are filed in the UK each year but insurance experts have estimated that perhaps 60% are bogus. It makes the "cash for crash" scam, staging car crashes then filing claims for personal injury and/or damage to their vehicles,  a R16-billion-a-year fraud. The shocking figures were given to MPs by insurers who said the UK had now become the whiplash capital of the world.

According to the AA, since 2006 there has been a 60% rise in the number of personal injury claims while the number of reported accidents on UK roads has fallen by 20% over the same period.