Free Traffic Legal Advice

General discussion => The Flame Pit => Topic started by: Biggles on July 19, 2026, 11:30:37 am

Title: Re: Scotland - How long does a third party have to make an insurance claim?
Post by: 666 on July 19, 2026, 12:13:38 pm

Don't believe all you're told by AI.

Six years in E & W, five (AFAIK) in Scotland, for damage-only claims.

Three years applies in both jurisdictions for personal injury claims.

Title: Scotland - How long does a third party have to make an insurance claim?
Post by: Biggles on July 19, 2026, 11:30:37 am

I have a friend who lives in Scotland.  A few weeks ago, with his teenage child in the passenger seat, he parked in a car park in town.  When he came back to his car, the cars either side had been replaced by new arrivals, and someone had left a note on his windscreen, which accused him of hitting their car whilst parking.  That was literally all it said - no contact details, insurance details, or threats of the police, just "You hit my car when you parked".  He has no recollection of making contact with the cars on either side of him whilst parking, nor does his teenager, and there was no damage to his car which indicated he'd done so.  There is no CCTV at the car park, so it's unlikely that there's footage of it occurring.

He's reported it to the police via 101, and to his insurers, but it seems the mystery note writer has yet to come forward.  He checks regularly with his insurer, but there are no updates. 

I know there's a limit on how long an injured party has to take a case to court, but I was wondering if there was a cutoff date for the anonymous note writer to make a claim to the insurer?  If it was England, I'd be happy to go with what Google's AI summary tells me, which is 3 years, but I know from living there myself a few years ago that Scottish rules can be different.