Car Insurance claim against me, no recollection of any accident happening

Lrcgy on 12/04/2017 - 20:34
Last edited 13/04/2017 - 08:54 by 1 other user

Hey guys,

20 year old male here, with a (profanity removed) 1992 Celica, with third-party insurance with AAMI. I received a letter in the mail today, except it was opened, and dated the 6th of April. Essentially, this chap reckons that I caused an accident on the 27th of February, and his insurance (also AAMI) has sent me the bill. I have no recollection of any such accident, and really don't want to have to fork out $700 for no reason. Can't remember if I was even driving that day.

My parents reckon that if the damage was over $300, there should be a police report on file. Is there anything else I should ask their insurance about? Photos of the damage?

Cheers

Automotive

Comments

  • AliensStoleMyMoney on 12/04/2017 - 20:39
    +6

    my bs meter is going off i suggest going through the cops and calling your insurer :)

    • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 21:51
      -1

      BS meter off the scale.

      'I don't recall' basically translate to 'It happened, but I'm just going to pretend it didn't, If I convince everyone else, maybe It'll become true.'

      OP, If It didn't happen, you would not say 'don't recall', you would say It didn't happen.

  • No on 12/04/2017 - 20:43
    +12

    Do you have an android phone?

    If so you might be able to check if you where in the area here: https://www.google.com/maps/timeline

    • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2017 - 01:07

      Wow, this is kinda cool, never even knew this existed. Cheers!

    • geek001 on 13/04/2017 - 08:29

      Hey, the google timeline is so cool(although a little creepy), thanks for that.

      • OhMaJuck on 13/04/2017 - 09:18

        WOW THIS BLOODY SHOCKING, MY PHONE WAS TRACKING ME THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME LOL
        COME IN HANDY

        • geek001 on 13/04/2017 - 09:19
          +5

          Yea well, as I age, I forget a lot of things, someone has to keep track of where I have been. Lol.

        • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2017 - 12:14
          -1

          It's great if we ever get murdered and they need to find our body…

    • jellykingdom on 13/04/2017 - 11:32

      Wow far out, thats pretty cool/unnerving

    • tsunamisurfer on 13/04/2017 - 13:12
      +2

      My god I had no idea this existed.

      How do I delete records of visiting the mistress ?

      • WT on 13/04/2017 - 14:20
        +2

        Murder her

        Then when you are in jail you dont have to worry about your mrs since you are now the mrs

      • John Kimble on 13/04/2017 - 23:54

        You can delete all or certain days

    • HeWhoKnows on 13/04/2017 - 16:33

      Only works if you had Location/GPS running

    • rcgy on 15/04/2017 - 15:06

      Thanks for this! Yeah, it seems I was driving that day, so it very well could be legit. Have to wait and see what my insurer reckon.

  • chumlee on 12/04/2017 - 20:43
    +18

    Your parents are wrong. Police have better things to do.

    Check your phone records, credit card or atm transactions to see where you were on this day.

    Maybe it's just me but i would know if i had a car accident or not

    • Well Wasted on 13/04/2017 - 10:54
      -7

      my taxes pay police wages… i'll decide when to call them if i decide they are needed. you seem like someone who would wriggle out of your responsibility unless there was proof… ie the word of a police officer.

  • RockyRaccoon on 12/04/2017 - 20:53
    +2

    You have 3rd party insurance with AAMI, use it. Let them work it out. Thats what you pay them for. Tell them what you told us, then they will fight for you with themselves. They will then let you know what evidence the other driver has and then you can dispute this if its not right.

    Note they say you "caused" the accident. That doesnt mean you hit someone. Could mean they swerved to avoid you.

    • furys12 on 13/04/2017 - 09:06
      +1

      Note they say you "caused" the accident. That doesnt mean you hit someone. Could mean they swerved to avoid you.

      this is a pretty good point, obviously you'd remember pretty much anything where contact was involved, even a tiny tap, but this could just be someone claiming you caused them to have an accident in some way, in which case the burden on proof is on them (in my none professional opinion)

  • rambutann on 12/04/2017 - 20:57

    I was once about to put in a claim to get money from someone who reversed into my motorcycle, knocked it over and drove off. I had an eye witness that saw the incident. In the end I didn't persue it but I probs could have. I don't doubt that the person that knocked over my motorcycle didn't see it..

    Essentially you just need more facts from the insurer. I have no idea about getting your insurer involved as stated above but it wouldn't hurt to give it a go!

  • mskeggs on 12/04/2017 - 20:58
    +6

    What does your insurer say?
    I would be a bit more definitive with them and say "I did not have any accident" rather than "I might have been so out of it I had an accident, but I don't have any memory of it" which is how it reads right now ;-)

  • Ughhh on 12/04/2017 - 21:03

    My parents reckon that if the damage was over $300, there should be a police report on file

    Add an extra 0 to the end of $300. If damages are over $3000 and or injuries occurred, then a police report is required.

    • rcgy on 15/04/2017 - 15:06

      I thought that it was a bit low- $300 in damages for cars is basically anything, the police would be swamped!

  • Randxyz123 on 12/04/2017 - 21:08
    +1

    My parents reckon that if the damage was over $300,

    What?

    If damages are over $3000 and or injuries occurred, then a police report is required.

    I don't think so…

    If there were injuries then a police may attend and they may do a report. I've never heard of a repair amount for a police report. $3000 isn't that much.

    Ok so back to the issue. This bloke has gotten your details from somewhere. I'm guessing he told the police you did a runner so they've given him your details. So I'd be asking for more details. Or if the letter says… Where the accident occurred , what time etc maybe that will jog your memory.

    • whooah1979 on 12/04/2017 - 21:12
      +1

      I'm guessing he told the police you did a runner so they've given him your details.

      the other driver must be some story teller because the police don't normally disclose the details of registered owner.

      • pjetson on 12/04/2017 - 22:45
        +2

        That's not true - I've obtained details of another driver from the police twice.

    • Ughhh on 12/04/2017 - 21:41

      I've never heard of a repair amount for a police report. $3000 isn't that much.

      See step 5 https://www.police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/make-a-repo…

      Depends where op is situated.

  • whooah1979 on 12/04/2017 - 21:09
    +2

    I received a letter in the mail today, except it was opened,

    who is the addressee?

    • rcgy on 15/04/2017 - 15:11

      It was addressed to me, in all lower case;

      'john appleseed
      42 fake street'

      Probably just a typo with their data entry, the rest of the letter was legit.

  • minniethemoocher on 12/04/2017 - 21:52

    Call up your insurer and tell them your story.. If he has made a claim against you then he would have had to provide them with evidence that you were at fault if you didn't provide your details e.g. dash cam or independent witness. Was anyone else driving your car?

  • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2017 - 22:02

    I think the other party must have had a dashcam or something because the series of events seems to imply the police has divulged some information or some sort of identity theft.

    Either way the insurer will go into battle for you.

  • try2bhelpful on 12/04/2017 - 22:13

    Go through your insurance company, tell them you didn't have an accident and that you aren't sure why this guy has sent the information to you. This has all the smell of an insurance scam to it so play it straight and don't contact this guy directly at this stage.

  • airal3rt on 12/04/2017 - 22:28
    +3

    I have no recollection of any such accident

    You could be ripping cones from sunrise to sunset and you should still remember whether you were involved in a vehicle crash or not. If you didn't do it, don't pay.

    • holdenmg on 13/04/2017 - 08:34
      +10

      I don't know if "ripping cones" is:

      a) a drug thing…

      b) driving at high speed through strategically positioned witches hats (orange cones)

      or

      c) consuming large quantities of Streets Cornetto's.

      I feel old. lol

      • konradthecat on 13/04/2017 - 09:28
        +6

        Definitely the cornettos you old bugger

      • papachris on 15/04/2017 - 21:25
        +1

        There's also a (d) if you're an Opthalmic (I think) surgeon.

        Thanks holdenmg, best LOL I've had for ages…

  • onetwothreefour on 13/04/2017 - 06:38
    +5

    Try calling the insurance company, don't use the phone number on the letter, Google it instead.

  • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2017 - 09:06

    Location, location, location. :p That is the first thing I'd want to know.

  • furys12 on 13/04/2017 - 09:11

    week old letter thats opened smells like bs to me, if it looks legit, actually identifies you and has correct details etc, id call AAMI, via their website and see what the actual claim is, sounds like burden of proof is entirely on the claimant here either way, if they are so sure you did something and have proof AAMI will find you

  • backpaqer on 13/04/2017 - 09:39

    my wife had this situation, first thing we knew about it was a police calling card in our mailbox asking to drop into the local station regarding an accident. There wasn't even a mark on our car! Long story short - police charged wife with "leaving the scene of an accident without exchanging details" which went to court. Wife was an emotional wreck for months. We got legal advice and she plead guilty but the magistrate smelled that things had been blown all out of proportion and dismissed the case. The insurance company was zero help as the 3rd party claim was $2 over our excess and they weren't going to help us in court. So we paid the insurer out the $500 to have the matter done with and I've since fitted dashcams with big memory cards to all my vehicles (including my bicycles).

    • Ayedeevee on 13/04/2017 - 09:48
      +6

      Why did she plead guilty if she hadn't done anything wrong? How can you be held liable for damages if you weren't involved in a collision?

    • HeWhoKnows on 13/04/2017 - 16:32

      How is a dashcam going to help you with such bogus claims? There is nothing to capture

  • fersea on 13/04/2017 - 10:12

    Have you just received a letter from some random or is it an actual bill from AAMI? If it is a bill, it will have a claim number on it. Contact AAMI and tell them that you have no recollection of having an accident and you require further information about the incident before you can pay.

    I can't see how anyone could consider you doing this is unreasonable.

    Quite possibly a case where someone has see a number plate that was driving off and made a mistake.

  • bongom on 13/04/2017 - 11:04
    +2

    Insurance fraudsters driving up premium costs in Australia.
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-31/insurance-fraud-costin…

  • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2017 - 19:33

    Sounds like a scam.

    I have had threats or incorrectly been identified to be at faul in acciends before but my satnav logs my tracks and they drop the case straight away.t

  • tomsco on 13/04/2017 - 21:27
    +3

    Following with interest.

    • DerpFactory on 17/04/2017 - 10:31

      would also love to hear the outcome

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