What is a Staged Car Accident?
Motor Vehicles Accidents - December 30, 2019
Vehicle accidents are common in Illinois. According to the latest year of data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, we know that there were 311,679 total accidents across the state. Out of those, there were:
- 66,889 total injury crashes
- 998 fatal crashes
However, not all of these accidents were actual “accident.” Some car accidents in Illinois are staged, and this can lead to serious problems for motorists.
What is cash for crash?
Cash for crash is another term used for staged car accidents. Perpetrators have one goal in a staged crash – to secure as much as possible in an insurance settlement for fake or exaggerated property damage and injuries. Staged car accidents can take on various forms, including:
- A faked vehicle crash
- Faked injuries after a crash
- Fake accident reports
- Fake victims
- Fake witnesses to the crash
Sometimes, staged crashes involve only one person, but they can also involve teams of people who have perfected the ability to make a crash look like a real accident.
How to prove someone staged a car accident?
After a car crash that you suspect was staged, call 911 immediately and make sure police come to the scene. Tell the police that you suspect something is wrong.
You need to have a pen and paper ready. Get your phone out. Take as many photos of the scene as you can and take notes. Gather the following information:
- Names, addresses, and driver’s license numbers of the other driver and any passengers
- All vehicle and insurance information
- Physical descriptions of the driver and passengers
- Names and contact information of any witnesses
- Photos of all damages, injuries, traffic patterns, and more.
Can you sue someone for lying about a car accident?
Yes, you can fight against these kinds of scams. By following the steps we discussed above, you can work with a personal injury lawyer to file a counterclaim against the perpetrators of the staged car crash. Not only could this possibly save you from seeing a rise in your insurance premiums, but you may even get compensated for any damages you received.
Your car accident attorney will work to obtain eyewitness statements from the crash as well as video surveillance from nearby buildings or homes in order to prove inconsistencies with the perpetrator’s story.
What to do if you’ve been the victim in a staged car accident?
If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a staged car crash, you need to seek legal assistance immediately. Not only do you have to contend with the claims made against your insurance, but you may be dealing with your own injuries as well.
Your Chicago personal injury attorney will work to investigate all aspects of the crash and work to prove that you were the victim of a cash for crash scheme. You may be entitled to coverage for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering damages, and more. It may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek punitive damages against the scammers.
While the term “staged crash” and “faked crash” seem innocuous, these crashes are real, and they can lead to serious injuries for the victim. The last thing you need to worry about if you are injured in a staged crash is taking the blame for the incident.
