The other party’s insurance is trying to fabricate an injury claim against me, even though I’m not injured.
I previously posted with too many details, so I’ll keep it brief this time.
I was involved in a minor fender bender where both vehicles sustained only slight cosmetic damage—a dented quarter panel and a scratch. There were no airbags deployed, no ambulances called, and no injuries reported. The responding officer confirmed we were both okay and let us drive home. I reported the incident to my insurance as required. However, the other party was aggressive at the scene and initially demanded $8,000 without wanting to go through insurance.
Now, weeks later, that person is claiming they are severely injured and is demanding $80,000.
Their insurance has been repeatedly calling me, trying to imply that I’m not cooperating. I’ve directed them to my insurance, which has told me to ignore their calls. During a second call, they tried to claim I was hurt, which frustrated me, and I firmly stated that there were no injuries and referred them back to my insurance.
I’m wondering why the other party would fabricate an injury claim.
Are they attempting to make my lack of injuries seem suspicious to support their own claim? Could their attempts to assert that I’m injured indicate that their own claim is weak? The person I spoke with sounded arrogant and even somewhat mocking.
Yes, I plan to hang up on them if they call again. I just lost my cool that second time because this whole situation has been incredibly stressful.
Edit: Some responses have been unhelpful and dismissive, which is frustrating, especially when I’m dealing with someone who seems determined to take advantage of me financially.
I’m sorry to hear about your stressful situation. It sounds really frustrating to deal with someone trying to take advantage of a minor accident, especially when you know there were no injuries involved.
To answer your questions, the other party might be trying to fabricate an injury claim for a few reasons:
Financial Gain: Unfortunately, there are people who see accidents as opportunities to make money. They might think that by claiming injuries, they can receive a larger settlement from the insurance company.
Creating a Narrative: By insisting you are also injured, they may be trying to establish a narrative that could lend credibility to their own claims. If the insurance adjusters believe there were injuries on both sides, it might make their claim seem more legitimate in their eyes.
High-Stakes Claims: The high amount of money they are demanding could be a tactic to negotiate down. They might expect to settle for a lower amount, but start high to see if they can catch you or your insurance off guard.
It does sound like the other party’s claim lacks merit, especially since both you and the responding officer confirmed that there were no injuries. If you’re clear and consistent about what happened, it should help your case in the long run.
It’s also good that you’re referring all communication back to your insurance—they’re equipped to handle claims like this. Just remember to document everything, including the timeline of events and any communications you have with the other party’s insurance. If it escalates further, it might also be worth consulting with a legal professional who can provide guidance tailored to your situation.
Take care of yourself; it sounds like a tough situation to navigate.