Burlington Personal Injury Attorneys

More than 100 Years of Combined Experience

Staged wrecks can be disastrous for the innocent party

On Behalf of | Sep 4, 2018 | Car Accidents

Many people think that all car wrecks are accidents, but this isn’t always the case.

Some less-than-honest people try to make a quick buck by using staged wrecks. These incidents are very serious matters, but not because of the injuries that might occur to the person who caused the accident.

There is more than one way to orchestrate a staged crash. In fact, some of the things that you have to watch for don’t take place until after the wreck. Here are some points you need to remember if you are ever in a crash that seems suspicious:

3 types of crashes and one afterthought

Most staged crashes come from three primary forms. While there are some instances in which a true accident might fall under these categories, you have to take a close look at what happened.

  • Drive down: The other driver will wave you forward after slowing down. As you move into traffic, they will slam into your vehicle and then deny waving you on.
  • Swoop and squat: The other driver swoops right in front of you and stops suddenly causing you to rear-end them. This is common on busy roads or in traffic jams.
  • Sideswipes: A staged wreck will usually happen in a dual turn lane. The other driver might slam into your vehicle on purpose during the turn.

After the accident, you need to be careful if you are contacted by someone who tries to force you into visiting a certain body shop, using a specific medical clinic or hiring a certain lawyer. While friends and family might make suggestions, those that come from strangers should be vetted carefully. Some people will try to steer you to places where they can profit from a referral based on dishonest billing practices.

Concerns about staged accidents

Not only do you have to worry about your insurance going up due to these accidents, you also have to be concerned about the cost of the damages being passed along to you. There isn’t any reason why you should be the one who has to pay for the cost of care for any injuries you suffered during the crash.

The dishonest driver who causes the accident will try to make it seem like it is your fault. This can make it difficult for you to seek compensation for your injuries. Unfortunately, these cases are very difficult to handle.

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