A personal injury claim brought against a grocery business has been dropped after surveillance footage and social media activity appeared to contradict the claimant’s account, according to insurer Allianz.
The case closure is understood to have resulted in a cost saving of approximately £200,000.
In the case of Akram v Fizah Grocers (HG) Limited, the claimant, Mr. Akram, a butcher based in Manchester, alleged that he suffered a serious injury to his left arm while using a knife at work. The incident was not contested by the employer but questions were raised over the severity of the injuries and their ongoing impact.
Allianz, which was responsible for handling the claim, instructed law firm Keoghs to carry out further investigations. According to Allianz, this decision followed concerns around the accuracy of the medical and psychiatric evidence submitted in support of the claim.
The investigation included surveillance footage and a review of publicly available online material. This reportedly showed the claimant attending social functions and engaging in work-related tasks involving the use of his left hand, activities said to contrast with statements about limited mobility, psychological distress and an inability to work or leave home regularly.
Keoghs concluded that the material obtained did not align with the claimant’s reported condition. In light of the findings, the claim was discontinued prior to trial.
Ben Fletcher, head of counter fraud at Allianz UK, said the outcome reflected ongoing collaboration with legal partners and formed part of broader efforts to address suspected fraudulent activity. He said the insurer had recorded an increase in similar casualty claims over the past two years and was continuing to invest in tools and processes aimed at identifying potentially misleading cases.
Nicola Pennington, an associate in Keoghs’ complex injury team, said the result followed joint efforts between the legal team and Allianz. She said the firm remained focused on examining the basis of high-value claims and supporting clients in challenging cases where appropriate.
Allianz said the decision to discontinue the claim avoided an estimated £200,000 in damages, legal costs, and other associated expenses.
