Legal News

The dubious distinction of becoming UKs biggest hotspot for motor insurance fraud has gone to Birmingham for the fourth consecutive year running. The fraudsters in the city accounting for 7.76% of all suspected motor insurances claimants in the UK last year.
The data has been compiled by a specialist insurance law firm which investigates every year into suspicious claims on behalf of insurance companies.
The data showed a startling increase in the spread of motor fraud since 2009. The West-Midlands city was followed by East London, Liverpool and Manchester in the top ten fraud hotspots.
The data has shown 24,000 suspected claimants who have submitted fraudulent forms referred to the law firm by country’s top insurers.
Aside from the top ten fraudulent regions, the study also shows where fraud is increasing the fastest.

Crewe had the highest annual increase in suspect claims at 260%, while others experiencing an upturn include Medway in Kent (145%) and Leicester (58%).
Speaking of the findings, partner and director of Counter-Fraud Strategy in the firm said the current year’s results shows a continuity of the trend which was seen over the past few years it was an on-going and alarming spread of fraudulent motor claims away from the more traditional hotspots that was historically seen across England and Wales.
This has resulted in only relatively small areas of the UK being left unaffected by the problem of fraudulent insurance claims.
Common frauds include staged accidents and exaggerated losses in claims. Insurance fraud affects insurance premiums nationwide, with many motorists receiving year on year increases to their renewal price.
Birmingham council state they have "a robust policy to minimise occurrences of fraud and ensure that resources are used appropriately" and "places emphasis on a layered approach which is designed to prevent, detect and deter fraud."