2 doctors arrested on suspicion of involvement in new "crash-for-cash" cases

Police have uncovered a new type of "crash-for-cash" insurance scam, having arrested suspects including two doctors over their alleged involvement in dozens of compensation claims by conspiring to provide false documents.

Lawmaker David Lam from the medical and health services sector said that if the allegations are substantiated, the case would amount to serious professional misconduct.

Several vehicle owners have reported receiving unreasonable and inflated compensation claims following minor traffic accidents.

Police said that in relation to these suspected new "crash-for-cash" cases, at least four people have been arrested, including two doctors, on suspicion of forging false documents and information.

This as the Insurance Federation said that the current three-year limitation period for traffic accident claims means some suspicious cases are filed two years after the incident, making verification extremely difficult at the time of settlement.

The director of the Insurance Federation of Hong Kong said that after two or three years, it is almost impossible to verify whether claimants were truly unable to work or suffered severe trauma.

The Federation believes the three-year claim period should be reviewed, and said insurers may, in the future, require claimants to submit additional supporting information beyond medical certificates alone.

As the case involves two doctors, the medical sector said that if proven true, the conduct would constitute serious professional negligence.

Lawmaker David Lam stressed a zero-tolerance attitude, adding that the sector is exploring ways to enhance the credibility of medical documents.

He said there are plans for all such documents to be issued through eHealth, where each certificate would carry clear records.

On whether the accident claim period should be shortened, Lam said the issue would require further discussion.