We know it sounds crazy, but staged car accidents are definitely a reality. Although they’re rare, these kinds of accidents do occur, and as a driver you should at least be knowledgeable of the possibility. Our team here at Certified Autoplex is going to highlight some of the main signs of a staged car accident to ensure our readers are always prepared when worse comes to worst.
Tips to Avoid the Police
The title may be deceiving, but this blog is really about what things you should avoid doing in order to not get pulled over by the cops. Two of the most common type of drivers that get pulled over are dangerous drivers and distracted drivers. We give examples for both in order to give you a well-rounded understanding of each. Be sure to check this one out to avoid future problems.
There is no one target for this type of crime. However, it’s been recognized that victims of staged car accidents tend to be the elderly, women driving alone or those driving nicer vehicles. Although it will be foolish for us to assume that each and every accident was staged, we’re going to share a few red flags to give you a better idea of when to further question the situation.
Top Three Most Common Staged Car Accidents
- Brake Slam – This one comes in a few variations, but it’s definitely one of the most common. First scenario is that the driver in front of you slams on their brakes for no reason, and you inevitably rear-end their vehicle. A twist on this example involves another vehicle who’s also in the loop. The first vehicle will suddenly pull in front of you while the second vehicle pulls alongside you, which gives you no where else to go to try and avoid the accident.
- Welcoming Wave – We’ve all been in this situation before, but most of the time it’s harmless. You’re looking to switch lanes and get the welcoming wave for the driver behind you motioning to go ahead and move over. However, when you do that driver speeds up and slams into you. Later they said they never waved you into their lane and it ends up being your fault.
- Deceitful T-Bone – There are a lot of different situations in switch this type of staged accident could occur, but all of them follow the same pattern. As you legally go through an intersection, the scam artist will speed up and t-bone you. However, when the police arrive there will be others in on the scam telling the officer that you were the one who illegally went through the intersection.
Aside from these specific type of accidents, there are a few other red flags that may give you the sign of the accident being staged. One of the most common ways to know is if there are suddenly a ton of other passengers and witnesses at the scene. The passengers will claim injuries occurred as a result of the accident you caused, and the ‘witnesses’ will say exactly what needs to be said in order to make you look like the one in the wrong.
Another warning sign is when others involved in the accident are pressuring you to go to a particular clinic or work with a specific attorney in order to take care of the aftermath of the accident. As sad as it is to say, these people they’re suggesting may also be in on the hoax.
The best way to avoid staged car accidents is to know what they are as well as their warning signs. Education is key when it comes to being a well-rounded driver. More information can be found by contacting our team here at Certified Autoplex. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.