Hi Lee
Interesting question and not one which will come up very often. I would be careful how you handle it. If you make payment of the vehicle damage you admit liability and he may then make a formal claim for personal injury. He has 3 years to do so which is probably why 2.5 years after the accident you have heard from him. However, if neither insurers were involved in the accident AND nor were the police most solicitors would not touch his claim for personal injury, which would probably also be bogus.
However If he is able to show that you have paid for the repairs to his vehicle, even 2.5 years later solicitors may look at the case differently and try to deal with for him accordingly landing you with an insurance claim.
Your insureres would deal with it BUT 2.5 years later is a long time and there is no evidence like you say to show that you even damaged the car this long after the accident. If he has only just had it repaired then I would say you are not prepared to pay. If the receipt is from 2.5 years ago then still contest it and call the repairer to see if indeed it was undertaken and exactly when at which point involve your insurers who will deal accordingly.
Hope this helps dont admit anything and certainly dont pay. Get the receipt for payment and if it is recent tell him your not agreeing that this is the damage as a result of the accident. Ultimately he has 6 years to claim for the repairs so is within his rights BUT he has to prove that the damage was that caused in the accident and no worse due to time which I doubt he can do. However he only has 3 years to deal with a claim for Personal Injury. Hence he is now probably looking for extra cash.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Matthew Waterfield
Injury Lawyers UK Ltd
0800 1123 156
www.freeinjuryclaim.com
