Cops make injury claim versus break-in victim

A guy who was held at knifepoint in his home and had his car taken has actually stated he has been re-victimised by 3 accident claims made by law enforcement officer.

Terence Duffin’s automobile was composed off during an authorities chase.

He said he has actually now received civil claims from 3 law enforcement officers, despite the fact that he was not in the car.

The cops said this was a personal matter between the individual officers and the insurance provider included.

Mr Duffin had actually simply shown up home when two armed guys forced themselves into his home in Newcastle, County Down, at the end of August 2016.

They pressed me into the kitchen area and continued to take out carving knives, he said.

The house was ransacked, products were taken and they took my car.

Loss of self-confidence

He stated cops traced the vehicle in Clough, County Antrim, and followed it to Belfast.

It was on the Dunbar Link that the guys rammed the patrol car and it wasn’t until the Seven Mile Straight in Antrim that they were really nabbed by authorities who had actually established a road block.

Mr Duffin stated he felt traumatised by the theft however that things were worsened when he was informed of the claims by his insurer.

I simply couldn’t believe this was taking place to me, he included.

A Cops Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) representative stated it does not hold any info in relation to cops officers making payment claims against the owners of stolen lorries.

Each event would very much depend on the individual circumstances and the insurance coverage arrangements in place. This would be a private matter in between the individual officer, like any other resident injured by a stolen cars and truck, and the insurance coverage business involved, he said.

Such info is not recorded or required by authorities.

As with any accident the issue of the fault of the driver is also relevant, so for instance, if an officer was held to be negligent, then other parties (even if this included a taken cars and truck) would direct their claims versus the PSNI.

It is necessary to note that the same guidelines apply for any private desiring to pursue a civil claim, whether they are a law enforcement officer or member of the general public.

Mr Duffin said his no-claims bonus was most likely to be affected and he feared his automobile insurance premiums could increase as a result.

The PSNI acknowledged this might be the case.

‘ Negligence’.

Although the victim is completely innocent and someone else has taken the automobile, their insurance coverage may go up as a result of a claim under their policy – that is just the nature of automobile insurance coverage, a spokesperson said.

Injury legal representative, Jennifer Young, said this type of claim was a law enforcement officer’s finest alternative if they were injured when on responsibility by an uninsured chauffeur. She discussed why they would not declare on the PSNI’s policy.

The cops officers would have to show that their employers have been at fault in some way or that they’ve triggered the mishap, or that they failed to put in sufficient safeguards in location to safeguard them when they were on task, she said.

In this scenario, the accident was triggered as an outcome of the negligent driving of the uninsured motorist who has stolen the vehicle therefore because case a claim versus the PSNI would not be most likely to get off the ground as there is no carelessness on their part..

Mr Duffin has a new cars and truck and is now waiting to see what his next insurance coverage costs will be.

I will see where my no claims bonus offer stands when I renew in September. I simply need to cope with it. It’s bad enough with the criminal case showing up and now having this on top of me too, he said.

A cops spokesperson stated: It is essential to clarify the officers are not claiming versus the victim’s insurance coverage, they are claiming versus the Motor Insurers Bureau ( MIB).

Anybody involved in a collision where the motorist of the other lorry was at fault, and was either untraced or uninsured, might pursue a claim through the MIB.

It is a matter between the individual who acquires insurance for the lorry (the insured) and the insurance provider regarding whether in the event of their automobile being taken and included in a collision, the insurance coverage business will treat that occurrence as a claim under their policy.

This would depend on the exact regards to the policy of insurance coverage in between the insured and the insurance provider.

In summary, an officer injured by a stolen car would be entitled – and may elect to bring a claim – versus the MIB..