Blame/claim Chaser Chasing Me For A Non-Fault 'accident'

[JeniPeni]

A 'friend' had to quickly move into the right hand lane on the motorway because a car had cut in front of them at speed - and then sped off. So the car that was coming up in that lane had to swerve and his car and 'my friend's' work van got a bit scuffed, no injuries or anything major. They exchanged details and 'my friend' called his work's insurance people and told them what happened. Now, the guy in the car that admitted he was doing about 80mph at the time is using a blame claim lawyer citing loss of earnings and wants 'my friend' to complete insurance details within 21 days or .....? 'My friend' no longer works for the company that he was driving the van for as it was a temporary contract. Does 'my friend' have to respond to this blame claim lawyer at all or maybe just reply telling him to get in contact with the employer he was with? This happened in Scotland. Thank You.

[derekpara]

' My friend no longer works for the company that he was driving the van for....'

Just to clarify, who owns the van, the company or your friend ?

[JeniPeni]

The company.

[murraymints]

he has admitted to speeding..he'd be unwise to pursue a claim if that is the case and documented

[Peter Pedant]

discuss it with the works insurance people

[I cant work out who did what - I certainly wouldnt fill out someone elses form without discussing it with the eventual payer - employers insurance company]

[fiction-factory]

Your friend should pass the letter on to the insurance company- or if he doesn't know who it is give it to his employer for them to pass on to the insurance company.
I'm not sure that the 'admission' of 80mph if made at the time would mean much if it was now denied and if there was some other fully or partly to bllame- i.e. your friend.
The description of the accident sounds a little unclear to me- why swerve into a busy faster lane ?

[JeniPeni]

The other driver said to friend - you were going at some speed! But he was doing just over the limit and this other guy was going faster than him! There was no where else to move, other than squeeze into the lane that didn't have any vehicle in it at the time. Still not sure what to do, will there be any fine/penalty if my friend doesn't respond to this blame claim letter (seen as how he is no longer employed by the van owners any more)?

[woofgang]

so did he admit to doing 80 or not....not that it would be easy to prove without a witness to what he said

[JeniPeni]

Its more the fact that this other guy is now claiming loss of earnings and my friend doesn't work with the company anymore - albeit that he reported the accident to them and the insurers at the time. My question is does my friend have to respond to the claim letter looking for more information about the insurers name etc?

[bednobs]

why is the person chasing you?

[bhg481]

If they exchanged details at the time of the accident, the other driver already has the insurance details he needs. He can give them to his blame-claim lawyer himself.

[JeniPeni]

They have sent the letter to my friend requesting more insurance information - despite it being a company vehicle and insurance.

[JeniPeni]

Exactly, why are they writing to my friend when they already have the information?

[bhg481]

I would simply forward the letter to the ex-employer.

[JeniPeni]

Thank you for your advice.

[bhg481]

I suppose if your friend gave his own address to the other driver, rather than the company address, then that will be the only address they have to contact him. I suppose it's only natural to give your own address when someone asks for your details.

[JeniPeni]

BHG481 - That's what they did do. So, ideally he should just forward the letter to his old employer.

[bhg481]

I think forwarding the letter to his old company and sending a letter to the blame-claim solicitor telling him so is the best action. That way he can't be accused of ignoring the letter and the company insurers can deal with it.