Florida has the unfortunate distinction of leading the country in staged car accidents and insurance fraud. Unfortunately, many staged Florida car accidents end up costing victims the most. This type of insurance fraud increases insurance costs for all Florida drivers. As well, innocent drivers are often accused of causing an accident so that criminals can claim expensive medical expenses. In many cases, fraudsters will wave a driver to change lanes and liberally cause a car accident. In some cases, fraudsters deliberately slam on the brakes in order to cause a minor car accident. In each of these cases, an innocent driver is unfairly dragged into insurance fraud. In many cases, the fraudster’s cars is filled with passengers, each of whom claim expensive medical costs. Frequently, the fraudsters work with unscrupulous medical experts and other professionals in order to bolster their claims. In some cases, the innocent driver or their passengers are seriously injured due to the staged accident.
According to authorities, there are many things that Florida drivers can do to help avoid becoming involved in a staged car accident:
1) Leave additional space between you and the vehicle in front of you. The car in front of you cannot brake suddenly and cause an accident if you leave adequate space.
2) Be aware if someone waves you to change lanes or merge. While in many cases this is simply a driver being polite, it could also be a fraudster setting you up for a car accident.
3) Be wary when making left-hand turns. Oncoming cars can deliberately accelerate in order to cause a car accident in this way.
4) Never drive distracted. Not only is it more likely to cause a Florida pedestrian accident, car accident, or other traffic accident, but insurance fraudsters often target distracted drivers. Distracted drivers are less likely to notice suspicious behavior on the part of the other driver, making them ideal victims. Distracted drivers are also less likely to react in time in order to avoid a collision and are less likely to notice a deliberate attempt to cause a collision. Stay alert and be aware of the drivers around you.
5) Be aware of drivers driving erratically. They may be driving under the influence, or may be out to deliberately cause an accident.
6) Make sure that you have defensive driving experience and training. Defensive driving can help you avoid an accident, even one that is caused deliberately.
7) If you have been in accident, beware of signs of insurance fraud. If you are offered money to use a specific medical or legal professional, mechanic, or other professional, refuse. Ask for a list of recommended mechanics from an insurer or other trusted professional. Work with an experienced Florida car accident attorney to determine the true cause of an accident and avoid accepting liability or blame for an accident until it can be thoroughly investigated.
If you have been in a Florida car accident that you believe is suspicious, contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. If there is evidence that you have been the victim of insurance fraud, the fraudsters can be held liable for your accident and can be pursued for a settlement that can help pay for any damages caused to your vehicle as well as any medical costs you’ve had to pay. There is no reason for you to pay for someone’s deliberate attempts at fraud. With offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood, the Flaxman Law Group is proud to serve and to be a part of the South Florida community.