Insurance scams have been around for a very long time, but only in recent years have we seen a spike in the number of scams that have been hitting the Florida market and hitting it hard.
When you're looking at something that looks too good to be true, bear in mind the old adage- it probably is.
What can you do to protect yourself from losing your valuable money? Firstly, knowing the sorts of scams that are currently out there is key, so you can see it coming.
From there, you can educate yourself on the various ways that you can research any given offer to find out if it is fraud or fact.
You're driving around when suddenly, someone waves you on into traffic and you find yourself in a collision.
This person, presumably having made an honest mistake, comes running over to see if you are okay- but when a claim is filed, somehow the fact that they've waved you on is left out.
You find yourself at fault and therefor, liable for the damages.
You've just been hit by what's referred to as "a drive down.
" On occasion, they will also suggest various repair shops, doctors or lawyers.
Always trust your instinct here and find your own.
Use your own judgment and not that of other drivers when out and about, and be aware of anyone who seems to be looking at the way you are driving with a little too much scrutiny.
Always keep an open line of communication with your insurance company about anything you feel is not right.
Another commonly used tactic is referred to as 'swoop and squat'.
You find yourself watching the car in front of you get cut off, or for whatever reason, that car stops abruptly.
When you try to stop there is no time and you have rear ended the vehicle in front of you.
Everyone in the car is injured in some form or another, and each one is a hard to prove or disprove injury- whiplash, muscle or soft tissue damage.
Sometimes, they even have crooked repair places and doctors to further help them file these claims against you.
Always be careful, this is another area where a common scam hits the insurance companies- to the tune of roughly 20 billion a year.
Making sure that you are following proper procedure and keeping safe distances between you and other vehicles can protect you.
The last scam we'll talk about here is the "T Bone"- you proceed through a four way stop, cautious as you always are, when suddenly another car slams headlong into the side of your vehicle.
When the claims are filed and the chips are down, you find that there are witnesses willing to say that you ran the red light or blew through a stop sign.
In most cases, preventing the fraudsters from being able to file the claim in the first place is your best course- always be aware of your surroundings when out on the road.