Minivan vs. Bicycle (Car accident... scam?)
I was recently in an "accident" in my van involving a cyclist and another vehicle. I was driver down the street, when the other vehicle pulled out of a maverick parking lot and cut me off, I was forced to very suddenly slow the van down before I hit the other vehicle. It scared the crap out of me, but everything was fine. BUT, then my daughter (who was sitting in the passenger seat next to me) saw the cyclist who had fallen down. The cyclist (who was wearing a bike racing uniform and looked like he was practicing for a bike race) had also suddenly slowed down, but then fell off the bike from the sudden reduced speeds. The thing is ... I was in the turn lane, and he was 2 lanes away next to the sidewalk. Not even a real lane, just the 2 feet between the first lane and the sidewalk.
Shortly after the incident, I went to go park the van in the side of the road. And when I came back, the other vehicle driver had done the same with his vehicle, but had at the same time called the police and had reported to them the car "accident". They told the police that I had ran-over a biker, and that I was now leaving the scene of the crime. Another pedestrian on the sidewalk gave the same report. In fact, all I was doing was parking... While all this was happening, I had called my wife to come to where I was with the camera (our house was only about 6 blocks away). We took many pictures of the van, the biker, and the bike, all displayed zero damage except for the biker who got up with only minor injuries (such as road burn). Yet, the ambulance was called anyways along with the police. The biker refused service from the medical staff of the ambulance and was later driven off in a black SUV.
I thought that was that, and expected to pay the ambulance fee (with my insurance deductible). About 3 day later, however, I received a call from my insurance provider who informed me that the biker claimed to have been hit by my van, and when he was hit, he flew over the hood of my car and landed on the other side... which doesn't seem possible seeing as he was waaay on the other side of traffic. I don't know what (or if) he is going to claim.
I hope I'm not, but I think I'm in the middle of a "Car Accident Scam". If ANYONE can help me, or give me helpful information, I would be very grateful.
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