CNET On Cars - How to spot a 'staged' accident

Tell-tale signs that the accident you just had could be a scam.

[gali]

I have 4 dashcams in my car. Front, rear, and two sides. They saved me the $500 deductable in a sideswipe, and put a drunk driver in a stolen car in jail.

[ROMANEMPIRE]

There are also the people that randomly slow down for no reason. Go slower and slower to see if your paying attention. Then they signal left and not actually turn. Also when ever you attempt to pass them they speed up. Or the ones that turn into your lane for no reason other then to slow down on you.

[ryantoomey]

You would have to be suicidal to do this with a big rig.

[zunedog]

You have never seen people be dishonest to get money? Please.

[hunterneitzel]

Issuance fraud crashes can become deadly if the target vehicle is a big rig and another car rear ends the semi, underides the trailer, and killed on impact

[NW]

staged accidents is not always about insurance but could possibly to do you harm. only sick minded "DESPERATE" crooks pull these stunts

[donotneed]

A trooper in Illinois told me that when you draw your diagram show the vehicle who caused it to be Vehicle #1. When he told me that he had just finished doing a report on the accident I had with a car that cut me off. The driver of the car filed a claim with my company's insurance company. His claim was declined after I told the adjuster he had crossed a solid white line to get in front of me. I left out the part that I had hit him on purpose but because he crossed that solid white line he was found to be at fault. A solid white line is a "no changing lanes zone" if you didn't know and some states will fine you for. Texas has signs up telling you so.

[RyanCunningham-om]

Don't call staged car crashes "accidents"!

[JayLee]

While studying in Russia I saw at least two wrecks everyday! Not sure if it was a scam or just bad driving habits

[NW]

these people just don't know when to stop. what a shame they gotta stoop this low.

[TomDeVito]

This is really important info people because i was in an accident 6 months ago. Long story short some woman was dead stop in the middle of the lane no flashers, No one in front of her. I tried to slam on my brakes sadly however the whole nose of my car was smashed in. The only damage to her suv was her plastic bumper guard fell off. she told me "dont worry about it no one was hurt" few months later i get a letter saying she was "injured" i just ripped it up and basically i think she staged it

[gary_beniford]

those camera's can also be handy when fighting a speeding ticket since the courts will always take the officer's side of the story unless you have some evidence.

[anthonybaker]

Yep I agree. my Dad was just in one in October 2014 this guy had a mile long criminal driving record. How was he driving anyways?

[AllexRadu]

I think GoPro Hero 3 on 720p 60fps + 8MP photos every 5 sec setting would be best to catch a fraud. Recommended accessories: Battery BacPac, Car Lighter to USB adapter, 2x 64GB microsd cards.

[anthonybaker]

I'm glad I watch this I'm defiantly buying a drive cam now.

[highfivetolife]

its funny that the cars in the example video never actually collide

[elchamber]

I usually use a point-and-shoot camera to record. I just attach it on my gorilapod and wrap it on my passenger's head rest. For a perfect drive cam, it would have to be able to capture great quality during night drives and maybe a time lapse option every 10 seconds. It will eat up space, so I need a camera that can use a SD card with lots of room.

[JayMcGavrenHome]

0:28: "Our partners at *State Farm* say these crooked collisions cost insurance companies some 20 billion dollars a year."

The entire script, or large portions of it, was dictated by State Farm, for purposes of that product placement. (Oh, and to raise awareness of a problem that mostly affects insurance companies.) A few gadgets were thrown in to make it seem relevant. Not buying it.

[doomtomb]

Lol saw a state farm ad before watching the video

[dannyclub]

If it was an accident then you haven't done this.