How shocking holiday photo caught out man who tried to claim £22,000 by saying crash left him unable to work | The Sun

A 'DISHONEST' driver who tried to claim £22,000 in damages after a minor car crash has lost his case after holiday photos showed him hanging from a zipwire.

Ferenc Kirinovits claimed he was left unable to work for three months – but investigators unearthed damning pictures of him swinging upside-down and also riding a quad bike on holiday in Mexico.

The 45-year-old coach driver, from Lakenham in Norwich, has now had his compensation claim thrown out by a judge who described it as "fundamentally dishonest".

Mr Kirinovits had insisted he was prevented from working for three months due to whiplash and prolapsed discs in his spine.

He also claimed he was unable to clean, garden, go to the gym, swim or play football following a crash in August 2016 on the A11 near Attleborough in Norfolk.

His car had been hit by another vehicle, whose driver was represented in court by insurer AXA UK.

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The firm did not dispute liability but were suspicious about how severe Mr Kirinovits' injuries really were, the Eastern Daily Press reported.

He underwent surgery after a private spinal assessment in the Hungarian capital Budapest.

But social media posts by him and his wife showed Mr Kirinovits exerting himself on holiday in Mexico in February 2019 – six months before his surgery.

They were discovered by investigators from law firm Clyde & Co, acting on behalf of the insurers.

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One photo showed the claimant hanging from a zip wire, while others revealed him riding a quad bike, swimming and jumping off a cliff into a river, as well as climbing ropes and ladders.

District judge Jacqueline Raggett, at Norwich county court, has now rejected his "fundamentally dishonest" claim – saying he could not prove the accident caused his prolapsed discs nor surgery.

Mr Kirinovits had insisted in court he wanted to enjoy sports for one last time, after being warned he might not be able to do so following surgery.

The insurers could now be entitled to legal costs of an estimated £12,000, it was reported.

AXA UK's commercial claims manager Chris Walsh said: "Insurance fraud is a serious crime which has significant consequences for fraudsters.

"It sadly also results in higher insurance premiums for honest customers as insurers are faced with increased costs.

"For this reason, AXA UK is committed to pursuing fraudulent cases to ensure we can protect our customers.

"A finding of fundamental dishonesty in this case shows the importance of investigation and expertise in fighting against fraud."

Clyde & Co's Damian Rourke said: "Trying to fake injuries over a prolonged period is much more difficult in today's connected world.

"With so much social media, CCTV and the ability to easily take surveillance footage, our investigators have a rich seam of evidence to disprove fraudulently exaggerated accounts like that made by Mr Kirinovits.

"It's important to realise that, had he been successful, Mr Kirinovits's crime would not have been victimless.

"Honest motorists around the country would ultimately have paid the cost of his fraud in more expensive car insurance premiums."

UK insurers uncovered 89,000 fraudulent insurance claims worth a total £1.1billion in 2021, according to the most recent figures.

According to the Association of British Insurers:  "It is estimated that a similar amount of fraud goes undetected each year.

"This is why insurers invest at least £200million each year to identify fraud.

"Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. Fraudulent claims drive up prices for honest customers."

Research has suggested low-speed collisions now account for more than a third of all fraudulent claims, on the rise since 2015.

So-called "crash-for-cash" scams have become commonplace, with fraudsters deliberately colliding with the cars of innocent drivers to claim car insurance payouts.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau also warned earlier this year about "ClipforCash" scams – a new con where fraudsters accuse innocent motorists of clipping their wing mirror and then demand cash up front.

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A new government law in 2105 promised to help insurers fight back against dodgy claims.

Section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 means courts can now strike out any personal injury claim if it is deemed to be "fundamentally dishonest" – and insurers can fight back by retrieving costs.

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