Following the news of a crooked insurance scam resulting in a bus inspector and co-conspirators receiving jail sentences recently, Zen Law call towards more action in protecting the innocent.

Back in 2011, an accident occurred between a luxury Mercedes-Benz saloon and the number 42 bus operated by Finglands in Manchester; however it was not a complete accident. The staged collision, unaware to the bus driver on duty at the time, was the elaborate plan of Asan Akram, a bus inspector and his accomplice, Tariq Iqbal who was driving the other vehicle. Aside from the fact that they were well aware of what they were about to do, Mr. Iqbal and Mr. Akram would end up placing the lives of more than 30 members of the public at serious risk who were passengers on the Manchester bus at the time of the incident on Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme.

What was their intended reward for arranging this deed? £400,000 in insurance money, a figure that insurers placed to one side to pay out the expected deluge of personal injury claims from passengers. CCTV footage acted in convicting 42 year old Tariq Iqbal, showing him overtaking the bus before slowing down and speeding up before slamming on the brakes causing the bus to strike the vehicle. A further four passengers in the car were eliminated from the scam enquiry it was later revealed. Both men were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after admitting to conspiracy to commit fraud.

Manchester-based personal injury solicitors Zen Law regularly react to news and reports within their industry. A spokesperson for the firm expressed their views, calling for tighter controls on scammers and harsher punishment, stating that:

“In cases like this, it is the innocent individuals who end up losing out, having to experience such an incident and then being cheated out of any injury claim they are entitled to, simply for the gain of a couple of people.

“Although the UK has one of the lowest cases of fraud in Europe, it still is a problem and can affect the way that reputable insurance companies provide their services, leading to increased premiums as a result if fraud continues to spread as it has.

“Our business is built on trust, the trust in our clients and their trust in us, the same as many other insurance companies. If we were to begin to lose that trust, it wouldn’t have a positive effect on our business; therefore, it is a priority to ensure we go to the lengths necessary to properly investigate all claims.”

Based in Manchester, Zen Law Solicitors operate in all aspects of personal injury including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, slips and trips and industrial diseases. Discover more via their website at www.zenlaw.co.uk today.