Motorists worry about bogus claims
Irish motorists fear bogus personal injury claims. An AA Motor Insurance survey of almost 10,000 people reveals that more than 46 per cent of people would consider using a dashboard camera to protect themselves and for greater peace of mind in the event of a personal injury claim.
“We were a little surprised that the number was that high” says Consumer Affairs Director Conor Faughnan. “But there is no doubt that it is a driver’s nightmare to be innocently involved in a minor collision only to find a major claim is being taken against you.”
AA Insurance included the question in its most recent poll of motorists because the issue was highlighted, rather strangely, by the amount of remarkable footage of the meteor strike in Chelyabinsk, Russia last February. The reason so many dashboard cameras caught that event is because Russians have taken to the technology in a big way to protect themselves against bogus crash claims, and it is clear that Irish drivers think this is a good idea as well.
“It is a reasonable fear,” says Faughnan. “Ten years ago we had a serious problem with the ‘compensation culture’ in Ireland. It was a key reason why our Motor Insurance was so high at double the typical cost of the UK.”
The AA is concerned that the number of injury claims is creeping back upwards again despite fewer road crashes and a reduction in traffic volumes in the economy downturn. According to data from the Personal Injuries Board claims numbers increased by 5 per cent last year and are up by a quarter since 2007.
