How to Protect Yourself in a Staged Car Accident
Falling victim to a staged car accident is a motorist’s worst nightmare, but these “accidents” are unfortunately becoming more and more common. These incidents occur when a vehicle causes an accident on purpose, in a manner to make it look like another driver is at fault. This is a more common fraud scheme than you may think, and all drivers should be aware.
Who Gets Targeted?
It’s important to know who may be targeted, and where, so that you can stay vigilant. Urban areas are common simply because there’s a higher volume of cars. Vulnerable people like the elderly, or women driving alone, are often the types of population targeted. In terms of the type of vehicle, fraudulent drivers will often try their scheme in wealthier communities since they are hoping for good insurance policies. On a similar note, nicer cars, rental cars, and commercial vehicles are often targeted for their presumed better insurance.
Common Staged Accident Schemes
There are a number of different ways staged car accidents play out. Be on the lookout for the following schemes.
Swoop-and-Squat (Rear-End)
One common example is when the driver of a “squat” car veers in front of you on the highway and then suddenly brakes, causing you to run into their vehicle. Generally, rear-ending another car is usually deemed to be the fault of the driver in the back, in this case you, as it’s a driver’s responsibility to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them. In these cases, fraudsters aim to exploit that fact, shifting blame onto you and defrauding their insurance company in the process.
There are a few variations of this scheme that involve more vehicles. Sometimes a second car, the “swoop” car, will pull in front of the squat car and hit their brakes. The squat car rear ends them, and you rear end the squat car. The swoop car then takes off so they can’t be blamed. In another version with three cars, a third car will box you in so that you can’t change lanes when the swoop car cuts off the squat car.
Left Turn Drive Down
This scheme can happen when you’re waiting to turn left at a busy intersection, and it involves two drivers. One driver, going the opposite direction as you, will slow down and wave you on, encouraging you to make the left turn. As you go to turn, they drive forward, blocking you, while the second car comes down the road and slams into you. The first driver will flee the scene so that you can’t blame them, and the second driver will blame you for pulling out into unsafe traffic.
Curb Drive Down
Another popular scheme can happen when getting into your parked car. You see it’s clear and go to pull away from the curb and merge into traffic. Then the fraudulent driver navigates over from the left lane and smashes into your car, making it look like you pulled into traffic when it wasn’t safe.
This is not an extensive list of staged car accidents.
What To Do After a Staged Car Accident
If you find yourself involved in a staged car accident, or at least you suspect you are, there are some things you should do to protect yourself – here are a few.
Do not communicate with the other driver
Oftentimes, individuals who stage car accidents are extremely skilled at manipulating situations and bending facts to benefit them. In the heat of the moment after an accident, you may be manipulated into saying something you don’t mean, or that may not be helpful down the road. For that reason, it’s best to stay in your vehicle and avoid communicating with the fraudulent driver. If the other driver approaches you, tell them calmly that you’re calling the police to obtain a police report, and that you’d prefer to communicate through the police officer.
Call the police and obtain a police report
Because staging a car accident is a serious crime, the other driver may not want to involve the police, and may even attempt to convince you to exchange insurance information without a police report. You should resist any such effort, as calling the police and obtaining a police report is essential. When the police arrive, be honest with them about what occurred, and provide as much detail as possible.
You can also make a report to the NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) who handles insurance fraud. You can make a NICB report, anonymously if you want, by either calling, texting, or submitting a form through their website.
Collect evidence
Take as many photographs as you can of the accident, the damage, and the surroundings, including the road conditions and weather. Additionally, soon after the accident, you should either write or record a narrative of the event, including as many details as possible. Details begin to fade quickly as time passes, and recording your memories as soon as possible will ensure that details are preserved. Lastly, seek out any witnesses who saw the crash and who may be able to corroborate that it was preserved. If anyone stopped to assist you, ask them for their contact information. Take note of any traffic cameras or businesses nearby that may have cameras pointing at the roadway.
Contact a lawyer as soon as possible
Proving a staged car accident can be difficult, but with the help of an experienced car accident lawyer, like those at Mingo & Yankala, you can prove that the accident was staged and seek appropriate compensation. If you are the victim of a staged car accident, you shouldn’t let the other party get away with it – an at-fault accident can cause your insurance rates to increase, and the other driver may even seek to file a fraudulent lawsuit against you.