How Incredible Public Liability Insurance Claim Landed Man in Jail

Public liability insurance is important to businesses because it covers against lawsuits resulting from accidents caused by alleged business negligence. While most insurance claims are legitimate, a worrying claims trend where needless, falsified or embellished claims are made is on the rise. Business owners are at high risk of becoming victims of frivolous accident claims today more than ever before. Sample these funny, accident descriptions submitted on real claim forms.

Funny insurance claims

• "The company is responsible for the accident. I thought my car window was down, but I found it was up when I put my head through it."
• "I told the police I was not hurt, but upon removing my cap I found I had a concussion."
• "I had been learning to drive with the power steering the garage fitted. I turned the wheel to what I thought was enough and found myself going the opposite direction."
• "I was going to work at 7am in the morning. I drove out of my drive as usual and rammed straight into a bus. The bus was five minutes early."

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Before anybody else joins the fray with incredible accident claims, read this ingenious claim that landed a man in jail.

Most incredible insurance claim

A lawyer insured his expensive and rare cigars against fire. After smoking his entire cigar stockpile, he filed an insurance claim stating that his expensive cigars were lost “in a series of small fires.” The insurance company refused to pay, saying he had smoked all his cigars. The lawyer sued the company and, incredibly, won!

The ruling judge pointed out that the insurance company had failed to define what “unacceptable fire” was when issuing the cover. To minimise accruing legal costs, the company grudgingly agreed to pay €10,000 to the lawyer for his loss.

The company, however, reported the lawyer to the police who arrested him on 24 counts of arson. It used documents from the lawyer’s own insurance claim in court and proved he was guilty of intentionally burning his insured property. The court fined the lawyer €24,000 and sentenced him to two years in jail.

Moral of the story

If you are going to make an insurance claim, make sure it does not come back to bite you. Public liability insurance claims are treated professionally just like all personal injury claims. Analyse your accident circumstances with an expert and get sound, early advice before making any claims.