Worrying Increase In Crash For Cash Road Traffic Accidents
Posted on 26th July 2021
Our leading NO WIN NO FEE personal injury solicitors discuss Crash For Cash road traffic accidents, and what to do if you are involved in one.
In recent weeks, insurance providers have warned road users of a suspected increased in crash for cash staged road traffic accidents as restrictions ease, warning that last summer saw an 150% increase ‘induced collisions’ such as these. In this post, our specialist road traffic accident personal injury solicitors discuss crash for crash accidents, how to spot a crash for cash scam, what to do if you’re a victim of a crash for cash, and what to do if you’re an innocent party injured in a crash for cash road traffic accident.
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What is crash for cash?
An increasingly common term used after road traffic accidents, crash for cash refers to a scheme used by some organised crime groups in which they fill a car full of people, and then have the driver brake harshly, and without any warning, in order to force other drivers to crash into the back of them. They then try to make large personal injury and insurance claims.
How to spot a crash for cash scam attempt:
Along with the warnings of increased activity in the upcoming months, insurance provider have also given an indication as to some of the common warning signs that a crash for cash attempt is taking place.
These are:
A driver moving onto a roundabout or junction before suddenly stopping or slowing down
Someone who is driving especially erratically and dangerously in the time leading up to the incident
The driver breaking sharply for no apparent reason
Someone encouraging you out of a junction, appearing to let you go, before speeding up and crashing into you
A car’s rear passenger looking behind at you out of the vehicle’s rear window (potentially advising the driver as to when you are close to them)
The driver blaming another road user, who has since driven off, for the incident (this could potentially be an accomplice who was working with them)
How can crash for cash affect me?
Our road traffic accident personal injury solicitors have worked with a number of clients who have been victims of crash for cash accidents. If you are unfortunate enough to a victim of a traffic accident that is a crash for cash scam, you could find yourself seriously injured. Due to the nature of the crash, the most common incident is whiplash, but many people also suffer from back injuries, fractures, shoulder injuries, and many more.
It can also affect many people psychologically, and leave them frustrated at themselves for falling for the scam, and surprised that they could in fact cause a road traffic accident.
Finally, and most obviously, the scam can significantly impact the insurance premium and no claims bonuses of a victim. The crash for cash criminals will obviously attempt to claim for as much as they possibly can.
This includes:
Compensation for injuries- there are normally a large number of passengers in the vehicle at the time, and they can even be known to claim for injuries of fictitious passengers
Costs for vehicle repair- these will often be exaggerated, made up, or also used to cover damage that was already present on the vehicle at the time
Loss of earnings for the driver and the passengers in the vehicle
What to do if you’re a victim of a crash for cash scheme?
If you are a victim a road traffic accident, and you suspect that it was part of a crash for cash crime, then there are a number of steps that you can take in order to potentially prove this fraudulent action.
These are-
Obtain the names and contact details of both the driver and all of the passengers. They may be reluctant to provide you with these, but it is important that you at least have a record of the number of people who were in the offending car at the time of the accident
If another vehicle is involved but has driven off (which could have more information/be an accomplice in the crime), then try to get a registration number or a description of the vehicle
Never admit liability- the crash for cash criminals many be insistent in trying to force you to accept blame and admit liability for the accident, but this should never be done
Take photographs of the scene- do so as soon as possible before any vehicle can be moved/debris can be moved
Get contact details for any witnesses- when doing so, always be careful that the people around are not a part of the scheme. One giveaway is if they immediately come over and attempt to become involved in the discussion
Carefully call the police- it is obviously a good idea to call the police to the scene while everyone is still present. Still, if it is a crash for cash scheme, then this people are essentially criminals, and would probably not react well to the news that the police are on their way. If possible, call the police discreetly when away from the other parties
Look for CCTV cameras in the area- this footage could be key in proving that the accident was a crash for cash scheme
What to do if you’ve been injured in a crash for cash scheme:
If you have suffered from personal injuries of any kind, as a result of bring a victim in a crash for cash road traffic accident, then you could be entitled to financial compensation. Our leading personal injury solicitors know how damaging and difficult crash for cash schemes can be, and that innocent people can be seriously injured in them.
MG Legal’s team of road traffic accident solicitors work on behalf of people who have been genuinely injured in traffic accidents, and are here to help you get the justice and financial compensation that you deserve.
If you have been involved in a crash for cash scheme, you are an innocent victim, and do not deserve to be injured in any way as a result. Our team have over 30 years of experience in road traffic accident claims, and are well versed in how to spot a crash for cash scheme.
MG Legal accept all of our clients on a NO WIN NO FEE basis, meaning that you can instruct us with no financial risk whatsoever. We know that you might be feeling some guilt after your road traffic accident, and may feel that you are at fault for the injuries of those involved, but this is not the case. These criminals are experts at what they do, and will continue to frame innocent victims and road users if they are not identified.
Get in touch with our team today, here, for a casual, no-obligation discussion of your experience and potential case. After this chat, our leading team of solicitors will determine whether we can take on your NO WIN NO FEE personal injury claim, and will then assign a designated solicitors to your case, who will handle everything from then onwards.
We will handle everything for you, simply getting the necessary documents posted to you to sign and get back to us. Contact us online, here, or come into one of our Preston solicitors offices in Garstang or Longridge, or in Lancaster.
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