So Wednesday we started off our discussion on insurance fraud. We made some pretty broad brushstrokes on the subject and laid out what it is, how it occurs, and the most popular forms of it. Today, we’re going to continue our conversation regarding insurance fraud, however now we’re going to talk about how you can make a difference by discouraging fraud through your own actions and smart decisions.
Today we’re going to focus on insurance fraud as it relates to auto insurance, while tomorrow we’ll wrap things up and dive into insurance fraud with a homeowners policy. Car insurance fraud is right up there with home insurance fraud as the most popular of fraud cases. Often times, many of these so called ‘accidents’ aren’t really accidents at all, and are planned by the involved parties to receive money from an insurance claim. In order to combat this type of insurance fraud, you should practice the following:
- D-E-F-E-N-S-E. No, you’re not at a football game, we’re talking out on the road. Driving defensively is perhaps the best, and easiest way to avoid an accident, especially if it’s a staged on.
- If you see brake lights ahead of you, that’s your queue to brake as well, even if the car in front of you hasn’t done so yet.
- In the unfortunate event that you are in an accident, document as much information as you can. The other car’s license plate, description of the car itself, insurance information from the other driver (if possible), and information about all parties involved in the accident.
- ALWAYS CALL THE POLICE. That police record is considered gospel in the Connecticut auto insurance world, so make sure you don’t let anyone dissuade you from calling the authorities.
- Utilize that phone of yours if it has a camera on it to snap shots of the vehicles involved, license plates, and the damage done. Proof in picture is golden.
Hopefully, you never find yourself in this type of situation, but if you do, then follow these aforementioned guidelines. Not only will you be helping yourself out, but you’ll be helping us out as well! Come back tomorrow when we wrap up this discussion and talk about fraud as it relates to homeowners insurance.