讀後心得

Recently, Los Angeles ABC 7 reported a video that sparked heated discussions on TikTok. In the video, a New York driver deliberately slowed down and reversed into another car, causing about $8,000 in damages, suspected to be insurance fraud. The California Department of Insurance pointed out that this type of fraudulent tactic is quite prevalent in Southern California, with over 20,000 related cases reported each year. Fraudulent activities often involve criminal organizations attempting to obtain high compensation through fake car accidents, such as sudden stops or driving obstruction methods. Hood emphasized that dash cameras are crucial in preventing such fraud and advised to always call the police to document the incident when an accident occurs.

Recently, a video that gained widespread attention on the Douyin platform has sparked heated discussions. The video shows a driver in New York deliberately slowing down and stopping in front of the victim's vehicle, then suddenly reversing and crashing into the car, causing approximately $8,000 in damages. This incident is suspected to be an act of insurance fraud, which is quite common in Southern California. Common fraudulent tactics include sudden braking impacts, driver blocking, and colluding accomplices, all designed by fraud rings to create fabricated car accident scenarios to claim auto insurance compensation.

Local insurance officials have stated that Southern California can almost be referred to as the capital of fraud. Every year, California receives over 20,000 reports of fraud, with some cases resulting in fatalities. One of the most severe cases occurred in 1997, when a group that specialized in staging fake car accidents caused an incident on the 710 Freeway that led to the unfortunate deaths of a couple and their daughter. This event prompted California to introduce related laws in 1999 to combat such fraudulent behaviors.

Hood emphasized that these fraud cases are constantly emerging, all aimed at obtaining insurance payouts, which represent a significant income for lawyers and the drivers involved. Many cases involve organized crime syndicates often recruiting temporary drivers or passengers to inflate the compensation amounts. For example, certain patients may have only visited the clinic once or twice but are recorded as having gone dozens of times, allowing lawyers to boost the insurance payout amounts.

One common fraud scheme is the sudden braking impact, where another car intentionally drives in front of the victim and suddenly brakes, leaving the victim's driver unable to react in time and causing a rear-end collision, seemingly making it the victim's fault. Another type is driver blocking, which usually occurs in urban areas, where a car intentionally blocks traffic, leading the victim’s driver to collide without being able to avoid it. Some fraudulent acts have even been exposed in videos, revealing that suspects deliberately obstruct the road to provoke accidents; without witnesses, insurance companies mostly determine the victim as the perpetrator.

Investigating such incidents is quite challenging due to severely limited resources. The local investigative team originally had 163 positions but is now down by 30%. Additionally, while investigating car accident fraud, other fraudulent activities are often uncovered, including cases of corruption involving public officials.

If you suspect you’ve encountered a staged car accident, installing a dashcam can provide crucial evidence. Experts recommend installing dual cameras to capture more details. They also stated that fraud rings usually do not wish to report to the police and often opt to secretly exchange insurance information before leaving; thus, it’s essential to report the accident promptly, especially on highways.