What you can do to avoid fender bender fraud

Fender bender fraud is one of the fastest growing types of insurance fraud in the United States. Unfortunately, most victims don’t even know that they’ve been scammed until it is too late. This type of fraud uses teams of professional drivers to deliberately cause accidents around the Wayzata, MN area, then bilk the driver’s insurance out of as much money as possible. Fortunately, there re some ways to protect yourself.

  1. Document everything if you’re in a crash. Often, these scam artists will embellish their injuries or the details of the accident in order to claim more money. If you take pictures and write down as much as possible, it’s possible to make a counter argument to their claims.
  2. Get a police report. Even if the other driver insists that they are willing to settle for less than your deductible, get an officer to document the crash. All too often, these scam artists will cause multiple crashes in the same day, netting thousands of dollars. The police, however, will be able to confirm everyone’s identity and look for other accidents that these scammers have been involved in.
  3. Report your suspicions to your insurance agent. If you notice anything strange or off during the aftermath of the accident, make sure that you report it to the police and your insurance agent. Often just flagging a relatively minor case as suspicious can help investigators put together a pattern of minor accidents.

Scam artists are everywhere, and it’s important to stay safe. Having good auto insurance is the best way to make sure you and your family are protected from fender bender fraud. Contact an agent at Pizano Insurance today to make sure you have the coverage you need.