Risk & Business Magazine Jones DesLauriers Insurance Fall 2015 | Page 31

Driver Awareness Overcoming The Threat of Staged Automobile Accidents BY: DONNY CUNHA, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, JONES DESLAURIERS INSURANCE S taged automobile accidents are becoming more and more common as innocent motorists and commercial drivers are caught unaware and manipulated into road incidents. These types of accidents are caused when someone has the intention of committing automobile fraud and receiving a payout because of the incident. The costs of staged automobile accidents are high. Your driving record could be blemished, costly claims can be levied on your insurance record, injuries and deaths can occur, your life is disrupted due to claims and repairs, and lastly, but not least, your insurance premiums can rise. There are a number of ways that individuals stage accidents, most of which have been given colloquial nicknames by police because of how common they are: “Drive-down” – In this scam, you are attempting to merge when another driver gives you a signal to go ahead. Instead of letting you, however, they crash into your vehicle. “Sideswipe” – You round a corner and drift slightly into a lane near you, at which point the fraudster steps on the gas and sideswipes your vehicle. “T-bone” – This scam occurs when you cross an intersection and a driver on a side street accelerates and hits you. They then claim, often with planted witnesses, that you ran the light. “Roll-back” – In this case, you are both stopped and, when you divert your attention for a moment and the driver in front of you sees an opening, they roll their car back into yours, making it seem like you hit them while not paying attention. Protecting yourself from these types of scams is difficult, but not impossible. Should you find yourself in a situation like this, call the police immediately. Report accidents to your insurance company, and do not settle for cash on the spot. Be mindful when giving out personal information. Photograph the vehicles and record as much information as possible (including names, addresses, and phone numbers). To help alleviate the risk of falling victim to a staged accident, drive defensively and avoid aggressive driving. Be vigilant on the road and do not make the mistake of being caught unaware bec