ArticlesCase Study: When expert analysis wrongly led to the rejection of a Malaysian motor claim
0.25 CIP Points
Case Study: When expert analysis wrongly led to the rejection of a Malaysian motor claim
By LF Ong LLB (Hons), CLP, ACII, AMII, MCI Arb, MMI Arb — Chartered Insurance Practitioner, Arbitrator & Mediator Learn how a Malaysian motor claim was wrongly rejected as fraudulent and what insurers can learn about expert evidence, investigation discipline,...
14 Sep 2026
4 mins read
Summary
-
- A Malaysian policyholder found offside damage to his parked vehicle and promptly reported an apparent hit-and-run accident.
- A loss adjuster and two forensic firms inferred several impacts and the insurer rejected the modest claim under its fraud provision.
- None of the experts inspected the scene or obtained the police investigation findings before reaching their conclusions.
- Police records identified a tow-truck accident as the cause, vindicating the policyholder and prompting the insurer to reverse its decision.
By LF Ong LLB (Hons), CLP, ACII, AMII, MCI Arb, MMI Arb — Chartered Insurance Practitioner, Arbitrator & Mediator
Learn how a Malaysian motor claim was wrongly rejected as fraudulent and what insurers can learn about expert evidence, investigation discipline, fair decision-making and the value of testing assumptions before denial.
This true account is shared by the policyholder, identified as “Sam”, for policyholders and insurers confronted with disputed motor claims. A minor own-damage claim became a stressful ten-month dispute involving an insurer, a loss adjuster and two forensic firms, until overlooked evidence revealed what had happened.
Sam’s vehicle was comprehensively insured for 100,000, with Sam named as the insured. The accident occurred in Malaysia in late May 2021, during the Movement Control Order introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That morning, Sam parked beside an inclined road near his office. At about 6 pm, he returned to find damage along the vehicle’s offside. No CCTV covered the location and Sam had not witnessed the incident. It appeared to be a hit-and-run collision.
0 Comments