In the past few years, the UK has seen a huge rise in moped delivery riders on our streets. Delivering everything from Aloo Gobi to Zinfandel with large, colourful boxes perched on the back rack that show their brand loyalty to one of the many ‘gig economy’ tech companies. And the noise of their wasp-like engines is a common soundtrack on any UK high street after 5pm.
Accidents are inevitable as this growing population of mopeds whizz around our streets at break-neck speed to ensure a meal is delivered warm and on time. But the number of accidents has seemingly become disproportionate, even with the growth of moped traffic.
What our investigations over the past two years have revealed is an alarming trend in moped riders intentionally causing accidents with other motorists, purely to defraud insurance companies. While moped delivery services play a vital role in our modern world, the actions of a few unethical individuals are starting to show them in a bad light. It is therefore imperative that we, as an industry, address this issue head-on to maintain the integrity of our roads and insurance system.
Understanding the Issue
The surge in motorcycle delivery riders causing deliberate accidents primarily stems from a financial motive. These individuals intentionally collide with other vehicles, with the express intention of submitting fraudulent insurance claims. They may feign injuries, damage, or even stolen deliveries to exploit the system. Not only is this illegal, but it also jeopardises the safety of our roads. We have uncovered many instances that show a blatant and deliberate act purely to appear as if a real collision has taken place but that was pre-planned and orchestrated by unscrupulous individuals.
Why the Increase?
The motivation behind these fraudulent actions can be complex, but financial gain is usually at the heart of it. Some dishonest riders may be seeking quick cash, others using it as a means to cover their expenses, and some simply taking advantage of the system.
The Impact on Honest Motorists
The consequences of this fraudulent trend extend far beyond the dishonest few. Honest motorcycle delivery riders, who work diligently to make a living, often face increased scrutiny and negative stereotypes as a result of the actions of a few bad actors. Moreover, innocent motorists involved in these staged accidents suffer both emotionally and financially.
Insurance companies are burdened with additional costs and administration, due to the surge in fraudulent claims. This translates into higher premiums for all policyholders, making insurance more expensive for everyone.
Solutions to Combat Fraudulent Motorcycle Delivery Rider Accidents
What can be done to address this epidemic? Here are a few ideas and actions that are simple to implement.
Improved awareness: Campaigns to highlight the issue to the general public should be widespread and easily digestible. The practical measures you can take should you be unfortunate enough to be involved in this type of accident must also be promoted.
Investigation: Early involvement of your investigation team can make a real difference in gathering time-sensitive evidence such as CCTV and Smart Doorbell footage. Obtaining statements from policyholders and witnesses in early course not only provides valuable CPR compliant testimony that can be utilised in any subsequent litigation but also provides an opportunity to proof them and understand how effective they will be, should they find themselves in the Court witness box, at a later date. We can help here. As expert investigators with years of fraud experience, our RTC service rapidly triages all claims with suspicions about likely fraud foremost in our minds. In other motor claim cases (not necessarily related to mopeds or motorcycles) where we’ve identified fraud, we’ve been able to save our insurance company clients, and the wider insurance industry, millions of pounds.
Surveillance: Post-accident surveillance can and has proven to be invaluable in providing crucial evidence to refute a fraudulent claim. While the mere thought of such costly investigations often sends a shiver down the spine of the insurer, the ability to monitor a claimant’s activities remotely, via modern technology, is often a cost-effective method of gathering evidence on a specific claim, which can often also be used as intelligence across many similar claims.
Collaborative Efforts: The insurance industry and law enforcement (IFED) must work towards having an open dialogue with the delivery service platforms, who should be encouraged to collaborate in data sharing in a bid to bring this menacing trend to an abrupt halt.
In Conclusion
The rise in moped delivery riders causing deliberate accidents to defraud insurance companies is a deeply concerning issue. It not only endangers the safety of our roads but also impacts the finances of responsible drivers and the integrity of our insurance system. It is our shared responsibility to confront this problem by raising awareness, supporting the efforts of insurance companies, and advocating for stronger regulations and enhanced surveillance.
We’re doing our bit with solutions like RTC that expose the fraudsters. By working together, we can ensure that the consequences of fraudulent motorcycle accidents are borne by those who perpetrate them, not by the honest motorist and the broader community.
