Would you know if you were a victim of a staged accident?
Insurance fraud is a growing problem. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) estimates it adds approximately $1.6 billion to Ontario’s annual insurance tab. Staged collisions are a big part of that. These planned “accidents” put innocent people at risk and support false insurance claims that affect unsuspecting victims. The false claims filed by fraudsters also use up valuable law enforcement, court, and health care resources.
Staged collisions fool another driver into acting which then causes an accident. The most common types include:
How to prevent it: Drive defensively. Always keep plenty of distance between you and the vehicle ahead. Road safety experts recommend allowing three seconds in clear weather. In wet or snowy conditions leave 4 to 6 seconds. If conditions are worse, leave 10 seconds or don’t go out on the road.
How to prevent it: Be cautious and patient when exiting a parking spot – wait until the coast is clear before exiting. If someone waves you on, just ignore it and pull back into your parking spot and let them pass. When possible, reverse into parking spots – this will help when it’s time to leave.
How to prevent it: Be wary of accepting the right of way when making a left turn and ensure you’re turning safely. Leave lots of space between you and oncoming vehicles.
There are other signs a collision may have been staged including:
What to do if you’re involved in an accident
Knowing what to do if you’re involved in a collision is important. Make sure other drivers in your family are also aware.
First of all, stay calm. You must remain at the scene of the accident. Failure to do so can result in criminal prosecution.
Call 911 or police if someone is hurt, you think the other driver may be guilty of a Criminal Code offence, such as impaired driving, you suspect you’re a victim of a staged collision or if the vehicle is not driveable (significant damage.)
You must also:
If you think you have been involved in a staged collision, you can make an anonymous call at any time of the day to the Équité/Crime Stoppers Canada tip line at 1-877-422-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip via Équité Association.
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