'Crash for cash' scam man jailed

[lilelvis2000]

A lot of the young lads around here do this exact thing for a living. They also do a lot of other dubious and illegal things. Just to have a Beemer, a Rolex and bling whilst still living in the slum and showing it off to the pals who make a honest living.

[swamp]

Isn't this just the start of the scam though?

I thought the real money making part is the overpriced repair quotes they get from their mates' garages, and the made-up whiplash claims. Insurance companies should wise up to the former and stop paying out for the latter.

[threaded]

Isn't this just the start of the scam though?

I thought the real money making part is the overpriced repair quotes they get from their mates' garages, and the made-up whiplash claims. Insurance companies should wise up to the former and stop paying out for the latter.

The story on the BBC made me LOL, chummy's MO was so streamlined he even wore the same clothes each time, eww.

[centurian]

If they braked for a licensed animal, i.e. a dog, a cow, etc., then it is your fault if you rear end them. If they brake for a cat, or a squirrel, etc. then it is their fault.

Why is it their fault depending on the type of animal. They've seen an obstruction in the road ahead and execute an emergency stop - as they must surely be entitled to do. If you are paying attention and maintain a safe distance and speed, you'll never hit them, no matter where/when/how hard they brake.

Of couse, most people travel much closer than the recommended 2 second gap and spends most of their journey on virtual autopilot daydreaming, but that's still their fault.

[threaded]

Why is it their fault depending on the type of animal. If you are paying attention and maintain a safe distance and speed, you'll never hit them, no matter where/when/how hard they brake.

Of couse, most people travel much closer than the recommended 2 second gap and spends most of their journey on virtual autopilot daydreaming, but that's still their fault.

You are allowed to brake suddenly for a licensed animal, you're not for a cat, for example.

I don't make the rules, they are what they are.

HTH

[dang65]

I thought that if you go into the back of someone, it is always your fault.

The argument being that either you were travelling too close, too fast, or not paying sufficient attention. The person in front has the right to brake suddenly and drivers should always allow for this.

I hate that rule from personal experience, and I do wonder how many of these scammers would be caught if it was just questioned from time to time. The only crash I've ever had involved the roundabout scenario, though I don't think the guy was a scammer, just a really dodgy driver. He pulled on to the roundabout and I followed him, checking traffic to my right as I did so ...and then he stopped, for no reason at all. A cop car happened to come along and I tried to flag them down as witnesses but they just gave me a filthy look and drove on.

The "you-drove-into-them-so-it's-your-fault" rule was completely incontestable. My own insurers had absolutely no interest in my point of view. They certainly never asked, "Do you think it might have been a scammer?" Coincidentally, my incident happened about 4 miles down the road from this guy in the news, but it was an old geezer driving the car I hit. Maybe it was his dad.

[threaded]

Maybe it was ...

It is a very old scam. I've known about it since my first driving experiences in a nice car. I've developed a sixth sense for it now. But particularly English, not noticed it so much in other countries.

[centurian]

You are allowed to brake suddenly for a licensed animal, you're not for a cat, for example.

I don't make the rules, they are what they are.

Where does it say that you are not allowed to brake suddenly for an obstruction in the road. What about a large deer - they're wild and not licensed.

Not saying you're wrong, just that there are a lot of myths and urban legends and trying to sort out the fact from fiction.

[centurian]

The story on the BBC made me LOL, chummy's MO was so streamlined he even wore the same clothes each time, eww.

Yes, which makes me wonder how many other scammers are out there - that actually have a few more brain cells and have gone undetected for years.

[threaded]

Where does it say that you are not allowed to brake suddenly for an obstruction in the road. What about a large deer - they're wild and not licensed.

Not saying you're wrong, just that there are a lot of myths and urban legends and trying to sort out the fact from fiction.

Road Traffic Act 1988: “animal” means horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

Are deer cattle? I think they are.

Anyways, you don't stop for cats, or squirrels, or leaves blowing in the wind.

HTH