Scott Maw, a former champion strongman, found himself in hot water after claiming compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident.
While Maw described struggling to carry shopping bags due to a shoulder injury, he failed to mention his ongoing ability to lift heavy objects like logs, concrete balls, and even a Transit van.
This omission led to a highly disputed insurance claim, which ultimately left him £25,000 in the red.
Injury or Exaggeration?
Just two weeks after the crash in Sheffield, Maw, 36, demonstrated his physical prowess by pulling an eight-tonne tractor and securing the title of King of the Log Press at the Peak District Highlands Games.
Six months later, while continuing to claim persistent injury issues that made simple tasks like carrying shopping or getting in and out of the bath difficult, Maw went on to win the title of Yorkshire’s Strongest Man.
This inconsistency raised doubts with the other driver’s insurance company, who contested the extent of his injuries.
Maw maintains that while his injury symptoms were intermittent, the pain was real, and he only dropped the claim after things began to spiral out of control.
The Legal Fallout
As the case progressed, legal papers were filed with Sheffield County Court, and the insurance claim quickly became a legal headache.
Maw eventually decided to drop the case, agreeing to cover the opposing party’s £15,000 legal fees.
When his own legal costs were factored in, the total bill came to £25,000.
This case has been used by Markerstudy Insurance Services and their lawyers as a cautionary tale about the heavy price of filing dishonest insurance claims.
The Accident and the Claim
In August 2022, Maw, a plasterer, was driving his Vauxhall Insignia with his partner when another driver made an unexpected U-turn, colliding with his car.
The accident was not disputed, and Maw filed a claim, citing a whiplash-type shoulder injury.
However, when Maw was examined by doctors, there were no visible signs of injury like bruising, and the claim was based solely on his account of events.
The lawyer representing the other driver, Graeme Mulvoy, pointed out that Maw had been able to perform tasks requiring extreme strength, such as pulling a tractor and lifting 120kg logs, just weeks after the accident.
This made it hard to believe that he was truly suffering from the injuries he described, particularly when Maw had also claimed that carrying shopping was too difficult.
Maw’s Response
Maw, now retired from competitive strongman events, maintains that the pain he experienced was real, even if he was still able to perform feats of strength.
He explained that his shoulder pain was intermittent and that he continued working and going to the gym despite the discomfort.
He also pointed out that he had worked through “niggles” throughout his career, and he was still fit to compete in the Highland Games despite his injury.
When Maw’s insurance company learned about his participation in the strongman contest, they withdrew their support, pushing him to settle the case and pay legal fees to avoid further complications.
Although Maw was troubled by the prospect of going to court and potentially losing his house, he ultimately agreed to end the case.
Moving Forward
Maw continues to deny any dishonesty in his claims, despite the accusations from the insurance company.
He insists that the pain in his shoulder, although intermittent, is a lingering reminder of the accident, and that his claims were not exaggerated.
The entire situation has left him financially burdened, but the experience has clearly had a lasting impact on how he views both his injury and the legal process.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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