Set-up car accidents can range from vehicles deliberately stopping in front of a driver to cause a rear-end car accident to drivers who pretend they are being helpful but intend to cause a car accident that will look like the innocent drivers fault. Scams can also involve people one would generally trust such as doctors and lawyers.
First, it is important to know what types of insurance scams are used. There are many types of car insurance scams.
- If you’ve been hit from the rear – it’s the other person’s fault: A scam driver will quickly get in front of an innocent car and then slam on their brakes. This causes the innocent driver to rear-end the scam driver. Often the suspect car has passengers who pretend to have painful back or neck injuries, even though the collision was at low speed.
- Adding Damage: After an accident, either staged or not, the scam driver will go to another location and cause extensive damage to their vehicle and claim that the damage happened during the original accident.
- The Pitfall: You’re trying to merge into traffic, and a dishonest driver slows down and waves you forward. He then crashes into your car, but denies waving you into traffic and blames the accident on you. Malevolent drivers may also wave you out of a parking space with the same way and lure you into the pit.
- Mr. Nice of the street: Fake helpers try to scam people is by offering to help an innocent driver find a auto repair shop, doctor, or lawyer. In this case, everyone is in on the scam. The body shop charges you enormous rates; the doctor and lawyer also lie to collect more from your insurance.
Some ways to stay safe from Accident Fraud:
- Just don’t tailgate. Allow plenty of space between your car and the car ahead of you. This will give you ample time to stop if the lead car suddenly jams on its brakes.
- Keep an eye. Many people may file claims that were not even in the car! Or present at the time of the accident. So, count how many passengers were in the other car if you’re in a collision. Get their names, phone numbers and driver’s license and the car’s license plate number, in order to know where the car belongs to.
- Prima donas. Many people tend to give away if they are genuinely injured or are faking an accident by the way they behave infront of you and in comparison in front of the police. So, keep an eye on how the passengers of the other car behave.
- Always keep medical records. Certificates and other careful records of your medical treatments, dates, treatments given, and diagnoses should be present. Compare your records against the statements you receive to make sure the bill wasn’t padded or treatments absolute fictitious.
- Take pictures of the other car. the damage it received, and the passengers. It is a good idea to keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment, and even if that’s not available, there’s always your cellphone.
- Call the police. If the police report notes just a small dent or scratch, it’ll be harder for crooks to later claim serious injuries or car damage. So, call the police to the scene. Get a police report with the officer’s name, even for minor accidents.
- No fake helpers. Only see medical and legal providers you know and trust, or at least ones that are recommended by people you trust. Contact your state insurance fraud bureau if a stranger tries to steer you to an unknown body shop, doctor, chiropractor or lawyer. They very well may be luring you into the scam.
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