The footage – available here – captures the moment a Ford Galaxy swerves violently across a motorway and collides with a lorry. In the aftermath of the smash, four whiplash claims were filed, leaving the haulier with a potential claim of up to £75,000.
The occupants of the Galaxy blamed the lorry driver for the crash – even though they had driven right into his path across three lanes of the M25. But the insurance nightmare was avoided because the lorry had a Smart Witness accident camera fitted to the dashboard. It was clear from the footage that the recklessness of the driver at the wheel of the people carrier had caused the crash and the dispute was quickly dismissed within days.
Around 550,000 whiplash claims a year are filed in the UK, but insurance experts have estimated that up to 60% are bogus. Fraudsters running “cash for crash” scams who stage fake car crashes and then file claims for personal injury and damage to their vehicles have also blighted the insurance industry.
Sales of Smart Witness accident cameras have soared by 40% in the last year as motorists protect themselves against the danger of bogus whiplash claims. Many motorists have been able to reduce their premiums after fitting the cameras. The cameras, a bit like a black box journey recorder, fit onto the windscreen, are powered through the car's cigarette lighter or can be directly wired in. They record the driver's view of the road ahead and also monitor the car's location, speed, breaking and impact G-forces.
Smart Witness managing director Simon Marsh said: ‘This is real problem, particularly for hauliers and fleet managers who are running large numbers of vehicles and could be targeted by these fraudsters every week.
‘Drivers can often feel like they are on shaky ground when they go into the back of another vehicle, particularly if there are no reliable witness to explain what happened. Blame is nearly always attached to the driver who hits the vehicle from the rear.
‘However, in this case, there was a reliable witness, the Smart Witness camera. Who knows what would have happened if these cameras hadn't been there to reveal the truth.’
Smart Witness prices start at £149 for the standard edition, rising to £239 for the professional edition used by the lorry driver in this incident. The system is recommended by major insurers for hauliers, fleet managers and private motorists. It is officially approved by Transport for London.
