Car Insurance & Drivers Safety Tips – Car Crash Scams

Car Insurance & Drivers Safety Tips – Car Crash Scams & False Insurance Claims Made Against You

Will you be the next target on the road for car insurance fraudsters? There was a time when the motorist would get in their car to go to work, and only worry about how much a gallon of petrol costs, or that they weren’t seen jumping a traffic light because they were late for an appointment. But today the motorist has more serious things on his mind before getting behind the wheel, and that’s being involved with a set up collision planned by bogus fraudsters who make a living out of making false insurance claims against innocent drivers.

It was announced in the media and news that protection plans is already in practice to protect drivers and stop insurance scams continuing.

As we speak a police unit is being set up specially to target criminals that cause motorists life a misery and car insurance companies a lot of money. The criminals usually work in groups and when caught and brought to justice they will get more than a slap on the hand. Gang members organize and purposely plan car crashes to cash in on fraudulent insurance claims. Unbeknown to the innocent motorist they are usually targeted in advance by the fraudsters so they can make false claims off their car insurance.

Law enforcement officers are learning skills that when they attend the scene of suspicious accidents they will be able to smell a rat. Motorists are not safe until the criminals are brought to justice and behind bars. Meanwhile motorists need to be conscious of situations that look dodgy. This is all well and good but hasn’t the driver more important things to concentrate on while driving without having to worry about this too. Until these fraudsters are caught there is nothing can be done? If drivers and pedestrians is more aware of what’s going on they will take note and be able to provide the police with sufficient evidence to stop false accusations and false insurance claims made.

All drivers have to worry over a child running out in front them, or a lost cow, but now you need to be quick on the brakes if the car in front shows no brake lights when coming to a halt, that is if there are brake bulbs fitted.

Statistics showed put up jobs (accidents) are costing 350m per year, because not only is it clever prepared gangs doing it – but single motorists looking for money have jumped on the bandwagon too. Scams like this sees around 40 added to an average premium.

How low can these guttersnipes go putting peoples and their own lives in danger? Police training will take time to put a stop to fake insurance scams so be vigilant. The police are doing all they can, it’s a waiting game and will take time to stamp out this sort of car crime altogether, but if one bogus cheat is put behind bars then that’s one less false insurance claim and maybe one life saved. The police unit involved did admit it’s not something that can be stopped overnight, but even one criminal locked up in jail at a time is better than none.

Planned collisions are called “induced” accidents. There are other sneaky ways a scammer works but it is the induced accident that accounts for the vast amount of bogus insurance claims made..

How the thieves operate?

Induced accidents were brought to our attention as of late when young 24-year-old Mohammed Patel was convicted of a 12m ‘crash for cash’ scam, which had hundreds of people involved in a crash that was no fault of their own, at the same roundabout in Manchester. Patel had mastered a profitable system. He mostly targeted elderly drivers and would position his vehicle in front of theirs then slam on the brakes so they’d shunt his car forward causing enough damage that would guarantee him stolen money. His scam would always work because he’d disconnected his brake lights before setting out, so the driver of targeted vehicle was never going to notice until crash bang wallop.

How to avoid becoming an innocent victim of a bogus scam?

1. Normally the criminal will drive slowly to avoid whiplash and causing serious harm to themselves. Keep your wits about you and leave that all time big space between you and the vehicle in front. Watch out for cars that slow down conspicuously and no break lights come on.

2. Remember the criminals don’t work alone and other gang members will lie in wait to witness the crash. Keep calm if you sense a connection between the cheating driver and witnesses as they could be dangerous if they think they’ve been rumbled

3. Still do as normal what is expected when two cars collide. Exchange details of car insurance, the driver, the witnesses and the circumstances. Write down all versions of events you can remember. Sometimes shock from the experience can cause issues for a while. Sit down and try and relax till you feel better and able to continue with the matter.

4. If you have reason to believe you’re a victim of a bogus scam then let your insurance company know straight away.

Warning signs:

5. Be wary when approaching busy roundabouts – most planned accidents are usually plotted to happen here. Accidents happen because traffic queues are slow moving and unpredictable so thus less reason to suspect anything dodgy going on.

6. If the car you’ve shunted (bumped into from behind) seems to have followed you, or you noticed it several times before the smash, tell the police dealing with incident so they can check to see if you’re a victim of an insurance scam. Tell the police all you can member of the crash because it’s from your evidence that will put these criminals in jail.

7. More than likely a claimant who makes an excessive injury or damage claims might also try to scam more money by saying there were passengers in the car when there wasn’t. Yes you know that no one else was involved but it’s their word against yours, and of course they could play on the fact that you were in shock and your account of the accident was not 100% reliable.

Some facts:

8. Accidents are usually planned to occur multiple times at familiar spots, so if you’ve seen many a rear end shunted in a particular place, then if you think something fishy is going on, it most probably is. It could be a fraud ‘hotspot’.

London is the worst area for car crime as such, with 6% admitting they’ve either claimed fraudulently or considered doing so. That’s three times the number in Wales. Nonetheless gangs operate all around the country so be on your guard.

Motorists Safety Tips

If you wear spectacles don’t take a chance of driving without if you mislay them. Wear glasses every time you drive, even for short distances. Keep a spare pair and sunshades in the glove compartment of your car. If the windscreen needs cleaning then clean it? Anything that hampers a driver’s vision is a threat to you and other drivers too.

Check your car lights and indicators work properly.

Don’t drink and drive nor if taking prescription drugs and medicines that cause drowsiness.

Don’t stare long at on-coming headlights to avoid being dazzled look slightly to the left of oncoming traffic.

Make room for the cyclist they are unpredictable. When overtaking a cyclist, give them plenty of space – at least one meter or a whole lane if you’re travelling over 60 kilometers an hour (km/h).

Safety Tips for Lady Drivers:

Park your car in well lit areas

Be careful and vigilant in multi storey car parks

Park near to shop entrances if possible and avoid parking near staircases or pillars which makes great hiding places for someone to jump out from

Keep doors locked when stationary at traffic lights etc

Look inside the vehicle before getting in

Get someone who knows about cars to check if everything is fine with yours if going on a long journey so you don’t breakdown, and that the tank has enough petrol in to get you where you are going.

Never leave car keys hanging around or leave valuables in your car.

Have you been a victim of a car scam – Motroist Car Tips – Auto secrets revealed