Staged car accidents might sound like something that only happens in movies, but they are a real problem on American roads. These scams are designed to take advantage of the insurance system, and it is usually innocent drivers who end up paying the price. A single fake crash can leave someone shaken, injured, and dealing with insurance premiums that suddenly jump for no good reason.
The strongest protection you have is awareness. When you understand the tricks these scammers use, it becomes much easier to spot the warning signs before anything happens. If you have already been targeted, that same awareness helps you respond calmly and protect yourself as much as possible.
The “Swoop and Squat” Technique
This is perhaps the most common type of staged accident because it forces you into a rear-end collision, which is almost always considered the rear driver’s fault by insurance companies. In this scenario, two vehicles work in tandem to trap you. The “squat” vehicle pulls in front of you, while the “swoop” vehicle pulls up alongside you to prevent you from changing lanes.
Suddenly, the “swoop” car cuts off the “squat” car, causing the “squat” car to slam on its brakes. Because you are boxed in, you have nowhere to go and collide with the back of the “squat” vehicle. The “swoop” car then speeds away, leaving you to deal with the driver you hit, who will claim you were following too closely or not paying attention.
The Deceptive “Wave-In”
Politeness is usually a virtue on the road, but scammers use it as a weapon. In this setup, a driver in another lane will wave you forward, indicating that it is safe for you to merge or pull out of a parking lot. As soon as you attempt the maneuver, they accelerate and hit your vehicle. When the police arrive, they will deny ever waving you in and simply state that you pulled out into oncoming traffic, putting you at fault for the failure to yield.
The “Panic Stop” and Stuffed Passengers
Sometimes, a fraudster does not need a partner vehicle to stage a crash. They simply wait for your attention to drift for a split second or for you to look away. They will then slam on their brakes for no apparent reason. If you are not maintaining a significant distance, you will hit them.
These accidents often involve vehicles packed with passengers. This is done to maximize the insurance claim. Every person in the car will claim to have suffered soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash or back pain, which are difficult for doctors to disprove medically. It is incredibly suspicious if a vehicle full of people immediately exits the car, holding their necks or complaining of severe pain, before anyone has even assessed the damage to the vehicles.
Watch for Convenient Witnesses
Staged accidents are often elaborate productions that include actors on the sidewalk. If you are in a crash and a witness appears almost instantly to corroborate the other driver’s story, you should be skeptical. These “independent” witnesses are often accomplices who were waiting for the crash to happen.
Be observant of the interaction between the other driver and the witnesses. If they seem to know each other, or if the witness uses specific insurance terminology that the average person would not use, that is a major red flag. You should always insist on a police report, as officers are trained to separate witnesses and identify inconsistencies in their statements.
Document Everything at the Scene
If you suspect foul play, your phone is your most powerful tool. Take photos of the vehicles, the damage, and the passengers in the other car. Fraudsters have been known to add damage to their car after the fact or claim that more people were in the vehicle than were present at the scene.
Why You Need Professional Help
Insurance companies are massive entities that process thousands of claims daily, and they may not always catch the subtle signs of a staged accident without prompting. If you are wrongly accused of causing a crash that you know was a setup, you are fighting an uphill battle against both the fraudsters and the insurance adjusters.
While you cannot control the actions of other drivers, staying alert and keeping a safe following distance are the best ways to avoid becoming a target. If you see a car driving erratically or passengers constantly looking back at you through the rear window, back off or change lanes.
If you do find yourself in a suspicious accident, do not face it alone. Our attorneys at Mass Injury Group are dedicated to providing vigorous representation to each client and ensuring that justice is served.
Visit our offices at 15 Broad St #800, Boston, MA 02109.
Or contact us today on (617) 263-0860 for a free consultation.