Legal Question in Civil Litigation in United Kingdom

can i be prosecuted in criminal law?

i was involved in a car accident whilst driving a hire car and i crashed into the back of a company car. Six months later a fraud investigator came around to my house suspecting fraud as several of the people in the company car and in my car claimed for whiplash. Nothing resulted from the investagiton into fraud but the insurance company of the hire car, the one i was driving does not want to pay any of the damages to either of the cars involved in the accident.

I recieved a court letter form the company of the other person involved saying i have to attend court for negligence and pay the damages to thier vehivle. The hire insurance company will not pay out the damages of the company car i hit so the company want to recoved the damages they have already spent on the company car from me personally by suing me for negligence in the county court.

My question is if i get sued for negligence as a result of the car accident in the county court could the hire company then also sue me for the damages for the hire vechicle? and also could the hire company insurance then proceed with the claim in the criminal court for possible fraud allagations?

i am really worried about this, i have never been in trouble it was a accident. help !


Asked on 10/27/06, 9:32 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Dutton Legal -Zone

Re: can i be prosecuted in criminal law?

I really cannot see any possibility of any criminal action being brought against you as you say you have not acted fraudulently. There must however be the possibility of the owner of the vehicle you hit bringing a civil claim in damages for the damages arising from the accident. If this should happen you must then join the insurers in the action as what is known as a Part 20 claim. We will be happy to advise further should this happen.

Andrew Dutton

www.legal-zone.co.uk

[email protected]

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Answered on 10/30/06, 9:33 am


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