Is it Really an Accident? Common Florida Staged-Accident Schemes

Auto insurance fraud is an increasingly serious problem in South Florida. Today, I read about a chiropractor who was arrested after making almost two million dollars in fraudulent insurance claims. She’s not the only one. Florida leads the nation in cases of staged car accidents. These fake accidents cause insurance premiums to rise and cost Americans more than $80 million each year.

The best way to avoid being a victim of a Florida staged car accident is to become familiar with the most common types of accident fraud. Boca Raton accident injury attorney David Glatthorn warns drivers of the following Florida auto accident scams:

1. Staged accidents: A staged accident occurs when two drivers deliberately cause a Boca Raton car crash. After the accident, each driver claims claim up to $10,000 in personal injury protection benefits.
2. Rear-end accident scams: Scam artists often target drivers who appear distracted. In rear-end scams, the driver stops on or by the side of the road. As cars go by, he waves at the drivers to keep going. The driver then pulls out intentionally causing a vehicle to rear-end his car. In some cases, another driver involved in the scam will pull alongside the targeted driver to prevent him from swerving. After the accident, the driver complains of neck or back pain.

The disconnected brake light is another variation of the intentional rear-end crash. The driver disconnects his brake light and then suddenly stops in the hope of causing an accident.

1. Faked accident reports: A driver intentionally causes damage to his own car and then reports a hit-and-run accident.

After the staged accident, the fraud continues:

1. Injury fraud: The driver works with a chiropractor who diagnoses injuries that aren't there.
2. Car repair shop fraud: The driver who caused the Boca Raton staged accident pressures his victim to use a certain repair shop. The repair shop overcharges or bills for work that doesn’t need to be done. The victim and his insurance pay; the mechanic and his friend keep the cash

Recognizing fraudulent accident scams is the first step to avoiding being a victim of car insurance fraud. If you are ever in a Boca Raton car accident, protect yourself by taking pictures and gathering evidence. You can learn more in Boca Raton car accident attorney David Glatthorn’s book, The Florida Accident Workbook: Tools, Tips & Tactics to Resolve Your Injury Claim.

If you believe you are a victim of Florida car accident fraud, we suggest discussing your claim with a Boca Raton accident lawyer. To schedule a free consultation, contact David Glatthorn at 866-413-5525.