Motorist fraudsters ‘costing others’

Dishonest motorists who scam insurance companies following fake accidents could be placing innocent drivers at risk of debt.

Direct Line has identified the UK’s top ten “crash for cash” spots and revealed that the fraudsters cost the average car driver £44 each year.

These false claims also result in delays for payments for genuine mishaps.

Motorists are making unnecessary emergency stops at busy roundabouts or slip roads and forcing others to crash into them, followed by bogus claims to the innocent party’s insurer.

Some of the sites on the list include Centenary Way at Trafford Park in Manchester and Eden Point in Stockport.

Kate Lotts, director of special claims at Direct Line, commented: “Just the actions of a few can cost motorists a significant amount of money and pose a real threat to people’s lives.”

Figures recently released in the Confused.com and EMB Car Insurance Price Index showed that motor insurance rates in the UK have risen in the first quarter of 2010.

By Joe Shervin