What to Do If You’re the Victim of a Staged Car Accident in Texas

Billions of dollars are spent every year on the totality of auto insurance accident claims. Many criminals use staged car accidents to defraud insurance companies and collect benefits and payouts. Unfortunately, this is very damaging and harmful to the innocent drivers subjected to a fraudulent car accident production. 

If you have been the victim of a staged car collision, a skilled Texas car accident lawyer can help you file a claim and pursue a lawsuit against the responsible parties. False accidents are frightening and can injure anyone involved. Our skilled car accident attorneys can help. 

What Are the Signs of a Staged Car Accident?

A staged accident is one in which a false driver, often along with false witnesses and other false drivers on the road, plans and orchestrates an accident to file an insurance claim and collect benefits, including monetary payouts. These schemes are against the law and fall under the criminal act of insurance fraud, which varies in penalties within federal and state laws.

Signs of Staged Accidents

The following are signs of staged accidents:

• Multiple witnesses with false testimony 
• Injuries that do not match the accident 
• Purposeful collision and faulty signaling 
• Suspicious accident locations 
• Sudden stops/brake checking 

Fraudsters are skilled in faking accidents and know which components are needed in a police report, insurance claim, or doctor’s office to get the compensation they seek. It could be that you are a victim of one of these schemes and are involuntarily intertwined in their fraudulent act.

With a skilled legal team, you may rightfully seek compensation for your damages and injuries, as well as get the right story on the record. 

Common Methods of Staged Accidents 

Many people may be surprised to hear that there are common types of false accidents. Planned accidents are often staged with more than one person involved. The main driver usually causes the accident and has other drivers block a target vehicle and stage pedestrians or witnesses to add to the story.

These false drivers may even prepare and cause injuries to themselves before the accident to claim they occurred during the car crash. Additional passengers may even appear to be claimed and reported in a police report or claim when they arrived afterward or got in the car after an accident occurred.

Fraudulent drivers often target rental cars, newer cars, or commercial vehicles because they are usually fully insured, beyond the minimum state requirements. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, staged accidents are a big business. 

These are the common tactics and types of schemes to be wary of: 

Left or Right Turn Drive Down

A turn drive down occurs when a victim is making a left or right turn and stops before doing so, and a driver heading the other way stops and signals them to go but proceeds to crash into the victim and claim they never signaled them to go. 

Curb Drive Down

A curb drive-down occurs when a victim driver merges into traffic when it is clear, and a false driver from another lane suddenly crashes into them on purpose to claim the road was not clear to merge. 

Swoop and Squat

A swoop and squat often occurs on a street or freeway, with two false drivers and a victim. The ‘swoop’ vehicle driver pulls up in front of the ‘squat’ car and causes the vehicle to hit its brakes. The victim driver has no time to react and crashes into the ‘squat’ car, causing a rear-end collision, and the swoop car drives away. 

Side Swiping

Side swiping typically occurs in dual turning lanes at intersections. Victim vehicles may drift into outer turn lanes, and criminals side-swipe the car. 

Panic Stop

For a panic stop, criminals will often use an old vehicle, ride with passengers, and damage their brake bulbs. Drivers will get in front of a brand new car, and passengers will wait for a driver to be distracted, whether on their phone or looking away. The passenger will notify the driver to slam the brakes, and the victim driver rear-ends the vehicle. 

There are many mistakes to avoid after a Texas car accident, whether you have been a victim or not. Knowing what to do after an accident of any severity can help you avoid insurance claim denials, false testimonies overriding the truth, and any trouble that may incur from fraudulent accidents. 

What to Do After a False Driver Causes a Car Accident

If you have been in a false car collision and have fallen victim to a fraudster’s scheme, a skilled lawyer can help you. Dishonest drivers often attempt to settle the accident with cash payments and claim not to need a report.

No matter how minor or superficial an accident may seem, you should never attempt to compensate outside of an insurance claim or personal injury case. After a false car accident, you should:

• Take pictures of every angle of the vehicles and accident scene.
• Call the police and report the accident to law enforcement. 
• Get information on any drivers and passengers.
• Seek treatment for any injuries you have endured. 
• File a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. 
• Once you suspect fraudulent behavior, file a report. 
• Hire a skilled car accident lawyer to help your case. 

Any car crash is scary, and when you suspect you’ve been a victim of car accident scams, you have the right to file a claim and report the insurance fraud committed against you. Skilled car accident lawyers know the law and understand how fraudsters do their work. With an experienced attorney on your case, you can rest knowing that your claim and lawsuit are handled right. 

Contact Personal Injury Lawyer Dale R. Rose for Expert Legal Representation after a Texas Car Crash

At The Law Office of Dale R. Rose, our expert car accident attorney is dedicated to helping clients resolve the difficulties they face after car accident scams by seeking total compensation for their damages. To file a claim successfully and have skilled legal representation on your side, contact our law firm at (972) 634-7673 or fill out our contact form to speak to our team and schedule a free consultation.

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