How To Avoid A Car Insurance Scam
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by: SteveJohnson
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It's bad enough to have been in an accident, but then to find out that you've been scammed? Your insurance rates go up, you may get points against your license, and, in the worst case, your insurance may be canceled and all of the car insurance quotes you receive afterward are astronomical. And you did nothing except get suckered. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think. However, if you know the ploys that con artists most commonly use, you can guard against car insurance scams.
The Staged Rear-Ender Scam. In this scenario, the scam artist dodges in front of you in traffic, coming as close to you as possible. Then, they slam on their brakes. They've left you no room to maneuver, and so you crash into their rear end. Since the police and insurance companies almost always decide that the second car is at fault in rear-end crashes, your insurance takes the hit.
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.
When you do get into an accident, you need to keep a record of everything. You should listen to everyone's version of the story and keep a copy of the police report. Try keeping a disposable camera in your car to take pictures of damage. If you are suspicious that this might be a scam, let your insurance company know. They are the best people to inform, as they are experts on this topic.
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