Rise in Fraudulent Claims Takes a Toll on GP Waiting Times [19th Jan 2012]
Research by insurance company LV has indicated that the number of fraudulent claims on car insurance are rising, particularly when it comes to claims relating to personal injury. The insurer spoke to hundreds of GPs across the country and 60% said that they believe that more people are pretending to be hurt over the last two years. In fact 87% of those GPs questioned said that they had examined at least one person who had been making up their injuries. Half of the respondents also said they had been targeted by claims management companies who were trying to get patient details and one in five said that this occurs at least every week. John O'Rourke from LV has commented that claiming compensation when you are not legally entitled to it is against the law and could result in a fine or a prison sentence. News International has agreed to pay out compensation to victims of phone hacking. The celebrities and politicians involved are to receive significant amounts from the newspaper group. 36 claimants have so far reached agreements with the group and these include Sara Payne the mother of the murdered Sarah Payne. Sadie frost is to receive £50,000 in damages, while footballer Ashley Cole has received an undisclosed sum. The largest payment is thought to be to Jude Law which is expected to be more than £100,000. It is thought that the cost to News International will be in excess of £10 million. The claims also have a clause which state that if new harm was to come to light in the future further claims can be brought against the paper. It is also thought that the payments will set a benchmark for those who are yet to claim. A cyclist has been awarded £4 million after he suffered brain injuries when he was the victim of a hit and run in 2009. Patrice Gougam was hit by a Land Rover driven by Michael Elliot who then left the scene, later claiming he had no knowledge of the accident. Gougam had been a professional tennis coach, but was forced to stay in hospital for almost two years following the accident. He still requires 24 hour assistance. At the time of the accident Elliot had been treated for Glaucoma and should not have been driving. He was charged with dangerous driving and was jailed for eight months and lost his licence for three years. Gougam's wife now works part time to care for her husband and will be able to buy a home which is more suitable for her disabled husband. An off-duty policeman has avoided a jail sentence after he assaulted a man following a row in a kebab shop. PC Andrew Evans went into a rage because the kebab shop staff had failed to give him salad on his kebab because they had run out. Evans had drunk between 10 and 12 pints of cider on the night and started shouting and swearing at the staff. They offered him a can of drink for free and the manager offered a refund. Evans forced his way behind the counter to confront the manager after throwing his kebab. The manager was then punched and suffered a cut to his head as he hit the counter. Evans had earlier been suspended from his job and was on bail due to a domestic incident for which he was ordered to pay compensation to his neighbour whose home he had damaged. His wife was seeking refuge there due to his violent outbursts.  |
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