Avoid Being The Victim Of Car Insurance Scams
It's never a good thing to find that you have been in a car accident, but finding that you have been scammed can make it that much worse. The results of such events can manifest in the form of higher insurance rates, license points, or even a canceled insurance policy. Afterwards, car insurance quotes that you receive can be out of this world, even though you were the simple victim of a scam. This happens quite often, so it is important that you know how people commit these scams so that you can plan to avoid them.
One of the most common scams is where the scammer stages a rear end accident. This usually occurs when someone is seen dodging in and out of traffic. They leave people very little room to avoid them. When they find the person that they want to scam, they will get in front of them and slam on their brakes. This causes the person behind them to run into them as there is no where else that they can go. Your insurance will take a hit because most rear end cases are found to be the second car's fault.
Often the staged rear-ender will be paired with the fake medical claim scam. The driver either successfully cons an innocent doctor into believing they have suffered injuries, or pays off a medical accomplice to fake examinations and test results. In either case, your insurance pays for their treatment as well as their \"pain and suffering.\" This type of scam is especially problematic in litigious states. California car insurance is particularly hard-hit, for example.
The Exaggeration Scam. In car insurance scams like these, the initial accident may be staged, but it may be a legitimate crash. In either case, the scammer in this situation does intentional damage to their vehicle before it can be appraised for damage. They claim the damage happened during the accident, and there is no way for you or your insurance company to prove otherwise.
The third most common car insurance scam is known as the helpful scam. This is when a person tells you that the path is clear, such as when you are changing lanes, but the truth is that it is not. Later, when the accident is investigated, the person who told you it was clear claims that they never said such a thing.
There is another version of the helpful scam that will occur after the accident as well. Various people get paid off to refer victims to doctors, lawyers, or repair shops that will often raise prices to get lots from your insurance company.
So, how can you protect your self against car insurance scams? The most important of all is to be a defensive driver, and avoid falling into the hands of con artists. Always stay alert to what is going on around you. Don't trust the person who waves you into traffic. Also, do everything you can to keep a cushion of space between you and the car ahead.
If there is an accident, make sure you document everything that happened. If the police are called, make sure you hear everyone's statement and get a copy of the report. Keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment to take pictures of any accident. Finally, if you have any suspicions about an accident, make sure to tell your insurance company about them; they are experts in detecting and stopping scammers.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
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