Five Ways to Protect Yourself From Being a Victim Of a Car Insurance Scam

Mark McCrell is an auto aficionado who loves to drive his 1974 Buick LaSabre around town and write about all things auto. He currently blogs for the website AutoInsuranceQuotes, which specializes in cheap auto insurance.

You’ve always been a safe and courteous driver, never had a blemish on your record, no speeding tickets, not even a parking violation.  That’s why when you found yourself suddenly thrust into the back that car on the freeway, it was all so shocking.  How could this have happened to someone like yourself?  The truth is, you weren’t being unsafe at all, you were a target from two other insurance fraud experts who intentionally sought someone like yourself to pull off the perfect crime; they staged the accident and made it look like you were at fault.  These nefarious scammers are just a small piece of the swindler’s web; these threads can be tangled up from corrupt attorneys to even insurance agents themselves.  What’s an honest citizen to do? Here are five tips to keep you and your loved ones protected.

• Be a Defensive Driver: Every time you get behind the wheel, keep your eyes and ears wide open.  Some scammers are lying in wait for the distracted driver.  It’s not beyond their means to notice in their rear view mirror your focus has shifted from straight ahead and attentive, to down on your lap, wiping off the coffee you just spilled.  Perfect for them.  They slam on their breaks to slow down from another actor in front of them who has suddenly stop and BAM! You’re the one that’s going to pay the cost.  Funny how that first car left so quickly, leaving you to pay for all damages.
• Find a Reputable Auto Mechanic: It’s true as much as we’d like to think people for the most part and good and decent, there are those who quickly take your naiveté for every penny you’ve got.  Some will charge your insurance for the cost of new parts, when they actually are adding used parts to ‘fix’ your damaged vehicle and of course, pocketing the difference.
• Be On The Lookout For Reckless Drivers:  Believe it or not, there are those who will intentionally try to hurt themselves in order to scam insurance companies, they’ll make all kinds of claims and they don’t care who’s involved.  They’ve been known to throw themselves under your vehicle’s wheels while you backup or are distracted by other passengers.  Just because they’re not driving a car, doesn’t mean it’s any less a scam.  They’ll take advantage of any situation.  Some will call their agent to report their cars stolen only to have someone light it on fire or hire them to drive it into a lake so that later they can collect on damages or be relieved of making car payments on their vehicle.
• Be Careful About Towing: Your car is broken down on the freeway.  A tow truck mysteriously shows up, eager to help you out.  But, you didn’t call any tow trucks.  Use caution, his fees could well exceed those covered in your insurance policy.  It also isn’t a bad idea to become a AAA member. That way you can always count on the tow company that comes to help.  If you’re uncomfortable, call the police, someone who’s not legitimate is much less likely to commit fraud when the law is around.
• Windshield Chip Repair: You’ve seen them all over the place; replace that little crack in your windshield – free! Well, you should heed the old adage about nothing being free and this little scam is on also on the beware list.  Some disreputable companies will fix that chip for you quick as you please only to tell you after that you must have full coverage and no deductible for the ‘free’ part.  Surprise, they made you pay for that no cost repair in cash.

 

Just remember, where there’s a quick way to make a buck there’s bound to be someone there to take advantage of it.  Keep yourself safe, smart and protected.

Category: Insurance