I was in what I thought was a minor accident in Boca Raton. I was driving on North Dixie Highway when a driver who was stopped on the side of the road suddenly pulled out in front of me. I tried to swerve, but there was a vehicle in the adjacent lane. I slammed on my brakes, but I couldn’t stop in time. I rear-ended the other driver’s vehicle, but the damage was minimal and the driver seemed fine. Now the driver is claiming that there was extensive damage and that he suffered serious injuries. Am I the victim of car insurance fraud?

A:

Each year, staged car accidents cost Americans more than 80 million dollars. Many of these accidents occur in South Florida where scam artists use staged accidents to take advantage of no-fault insurance and generous personal injury protection coverage.

Every Florida driver should be able to spot the signs of a staged accident. If you believe you are the victim of car accident fraud in Florida, it is important that you let your insurance company know immediately.

It sounds as if you are the victim of a "swoop and squat."  In these accidents, a car suddenly cuts in front of a vehicle. The driver then slams on his brakes to cause an accident. He may work with other drivers to ensure that the driver of the targeted vehicle has no room to swerve or otherwise avoid the crash.

The car may be full of passengers who all claim painful injuries, or a “passerby” working with the insurance-fraud ring may offer information about body shops, chiropractors, or lawyers. He may even offer to be a witness and then provide false information.

To avoid a staged accident, leave plenty of distance between you and any cars ahead of you— just in case the driver decides to suddenly brake. If a driver waves you on, let that driver go first.

If an accident occurs, call 911 and ask for an officer to come to the scene. If there are no injuries, let the operator know that you suspect the accident was staged. Take pictures of the damage, the car accident scene, and occupants of the other vehicle.

People who stage accidents are experts in making it look like the accident is your fault. Let your insurance company know exactly what happened. The insurance company knows accident fraud happens and they don’t want to pay fraudulent claims. They will investigate.

You may also want to consult with a Boca Raton accident lawyer. Contact attorney David Glatthorn at 866-413-5525 to schedule a free consultation.