The recent four-year prison sentence given to a driver who deliberately caused over 90 motor accidents highlights the serious problem of ‘crash for cash’ scams, otherwise known as staged motor accidents. These deliberate collisions are often carried out by organised criminal gangs and involve innocent motorists who have no idea that the accident has been set up so that the criminals can claim for non-existent injuries from their insurance company.

Typically, the criminals drive a vehicle which has had its brake lights disconnected, then pull in front of their innocent victim and brake sharply, causing the vehicle behind to hit the criminal’s car. Busy roundabouts are particularly popular locations for staging this crime. The criminals subsequently claim for injuries and vehicle damage from the innocent motorist’s insurer. These incidents not only endanger safety, but push up the cost of insurance for law-abiding motorists. The insurance industry estimates that insurance fraud adds some £44 a year to every honest policyholder’s premiums.

If you think that you have been involved in a staged accident, call the police and tell your insurer. Don’t put yourself in any danger, so if it is safer to do so, contact the police away from the scene. Also, look for any independent witnesses at the scene and take their contact details. Don’t rely on any witnesses the other motorist may provide, as they may be part of the criminal gang.

Tags: association of british insurers, insurance - car