The BBC news today (21 October 2009) reported on the jailing of a “Crash for Cash Scam Man” who admitted his part in a £1.6million conspiracy deliberately causing car crashes at a fee of £500 an “accident”. Mohammed Patel of Bolton earned around £46,000 out of the crashes, funding luxury holidays and cars. After alert workers based in offices overlooking his favourite crash site (a roundabout in Cheadle Hulme) raised their concerns, Patel was put under surveillance and was subsequently arrested after he was observed staging 2 crashes in 1 day.
Chris Macwilliam, Personal Injury Solicitor at Clough & Willis Solicitors comments “The recent jailing for four and a half years of “crash for cash” conspirator Mohammed Patel should be welcomed by everyone. Patel staged at least 93 car crashes in 3 years costing the insurance industry about £1.5 million. Those false claims are passed onto the public in higher premiums.
Staging false accidents in order to make fraudulent compensation claims is both dangerous and illegal and the police and insurance companies will continue in their efforts to bring such criminals to justice.
Actions like Patel's can give the Personal Injury industry a bad name. However, the vast majority of road traffic accidents are genuine and real people suffer real, and sometimes catastrophic, injuries as a result. Genuine victims should not be deterred from seeking justice for themselves and their families because of the actions of a few criminals”.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a car crash accident contact Clough & Willis' team of specialist personal injury claim Solicitors on 0800 083 0815. Operating on a "No Win - No Fee"* basis the team's extensive expertise enables them to recover the compensation to which clients are entitled.
Alternatively to arrange your free initial interview please contact Chris Macwilliam , chris.macwilliam@clough-willis.co.uk .
* Dependant on individual circumstances.