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Unfortunately, traffic accidents happen every day. You can follow all the rules of the road, be as careful as possible, and still fall victim to a crash. But what if that accident isn’t an accident at all? According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, criminals’ prey on others to cause accidents and make a profit on the insurance payouts. They say fraudulent automobile accidents occur more frequently in urban areas where there is a greater volume of vehicles and that these criminals look for women driving alone and senior citizens because they’re less likely to be confrontational at accident scenes. 

These offenders are quite the schemers and plan their plots carefully. They’ve been known to pay witnesses to be near the accident scene and to corroborate their story, contradicting the testimony of innocent drivers. They can also use unethical attorneys and medical providers that may inflate the cost of an exaggerated injury. In some cases, there’s no one even in the other car at the time of the accident and the criminals stuff the vehicle with people after the collision. 

Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a victim of a staged accident:

• Avoid tailgating 

   

• Immediately call the police to an accident scene

   

• Use the camera on your cell phone to document damage and the number of occupants in the other vehicles. 

   

• Avoid “runners” and “cappers” – people who suddenly appear at an accident scene to try to direct you to particular doctors and attorneys.

   

• Be wary of physicians who insist you file a personal injury claim after an accident, especially if you are not hurt. 

   

• Steer clear of tow trucks that appear when you have not called for service, as they are often “cappers” for body shops. 

For more information on how you can avoid becoming a victim of a staged accident visit www.nicb.org.

You never plan to be in a traffic accident, but you do plan for the unpredictable by making sure you are covered with an adequate car insurance policy for you and our family. Talk with your local agent today to find out more about your coverage. 

Content provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau