Proving you did not cause a staged car accident can be an uphill task. However, there are things you can do to prove the other driver’s negligence caused the collision.
Car accidents are a daily occurrence on major highways and roads in the U.S. In fact, it’s estimated that 18,510 car crashes happen every day in the U.S. alone.
Due to the large number of car crashes, property-casualty insurances pay billions of dollars in accident claims. However, some individuals with bad intentions are deliberately staging auto collisions and submitting insurance claims for fake injuries and auto damages. At the same time, they are putting innocent drivers at risk and making them unsuspecting participants in a fraud scheme. Let’s discuss staged car accidents and what you can do if you are involved in one.
Staged Car Crash Explained
A staged car crash happens when a fraudulent driver intentionally sets up a car crash and makes it appear as another unsuspecting driver caused it. As a result, everything about the accident, such as the witnesses, injuries, and the vehicle damage, is fake. The goal of the dishonest driver is to blame you for the collision and file a fraudulent insurance claim against you or your insurer. Here are different types of staged accidents you should be on the lookout for:
1. T- Bone Accident
This occurs when a fraudulent driver waits for you to pull out of an intersection and then intentionally drives into the side of your car, causing a T-bone collision. You may not know that the driver may have fake eyewitnesses who may claim you were driving aggressively, or you ran a stop sign or a red light.
2. Wave In Accidents
This happens when a driver waves you to merge into a lane. Unsuspectingly, you’ll proceed thinking they have yielded the right of the way, only for them to accelerate and cause an accident. Then, when questioned about the accident, they will claim you made a dangerous lane change and injured them.
3. Swoop and Stop Accidents
In most cases, the rear driver is at fault in a rear-end collision. However, the fraudulent driver may take advantage of this by getting in front of you and deliberately slamming on their brakes to cause a rear-end collision.
4. Start and Stop Collisions
This usually happens on congested roads. The dishonest driver in front of you will accelerate and lure you into doing the same and then abruptly slam on their brake, causing a rear-end collision.
How Do You Prove the Other Driver Is Trying to Scam You?
Proving you did not cause a staged car accident can be an uphill task. However, there are things you can do to prove the other driver’s negligence caused the collision. First, you need to inform the police and identify any camera that might have recorded the crash as it happened. Second, collect information from any eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen and can testify it was staged. Most importantly, speak with an experienced St Louis car accident attorney to help you hold the fraudsters liable.
Speak With a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a staged car accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. 24/7. We’ve been helping accident victims for over 20 years and can help you understand your legal rights after a car accident. Contact us today for a free case review.