讀後心得

A recent video circulating on Douyin shows a New York driver intentionally slowing down and reversing into another car, causing approximately $8,000 in damages, suspected to be part of an insurance fraud scheme. Fraud incidents are not uncommon in Southern California, including tactics such as sudden stops and driver blockades. Insurance officials point out that there are over 20,000 fraud cases in California each year, some involving the assistance of medical institutions. Some fraudsters even use dash cameras to cover up their actions. They advise the public to report any suspicious situations immediately and to install dash cameras as a form of evidence.

Recently, a video that sparked widespread discussion on Douyin showed a driver in New York intentionally slowing down and stopping in front of a victim's vehicle, then suddenly reversing into the victim's car, causing $8,000 in damages. This is suspected to be a case of insurance fraud. In Southern California, such incidents occur more frequently than many might expect, including hard braking collisions, drivers blocking, and unscrupulous accomplices, all of which are strategies used by fraudsters to exploit fake car accidents to obtain auto insurance payouts.

Experts point out that Southern California can be considered a hotspot for fraud, receiving over 20,000 fraud cases each year, with some resulting in fatalities. In 1997, a serious fake car accident occurred in the Los Angeles area, resulting in the deaths of a whole family, including the parents and their daughter. This case prompted California to pass a bill in 1999 to establish the Insurance Commission to combat fraudulent activities.

According to investigations, many fraud cases are linked to medical institutions. Some patients may have visited a clinic only once or twice but are falsely reported to have done so 30 times to increase the amount of insurance claims. Additionally, the hard braking method is also quite common, meaning another car intentionally cuts in and suddenly brakes, forcing the victim into a rear-end collision, creating the illusion that the victim is at fault.

Moreover, instances of driver blocking also occur often, where a car intentionally blocks traffic on city streets, resulting in the victim being unable to avoid a collision. There has been a video showing a fraudulent vehicle deliberately obstructing the road, and when the victim attempted to drive out of the lane, another car suddenly entered, causing an accident. In such scenarios, if there are no witnesses, insurance companies tend to place the blame on the victim.

Some cases are even orchestrated by multiple suspects. Two years ago, at an intersection, five suspects conspired to intentionally cause a collision between two vehicles for fraudulent purposes, but their actions were all recorded by surveillance cameras, leading to their eventual capture. Investigating such cases faces many challenges due to limited resources, as the California Insurance Commission is currently operating with 30% fewer investigators.

While handling fraud cases, more illegal activities are often uncovered, such as a law enforcement officer privately selling accident reports. This led to employees of a repair shop impersonating insurance companies to contact vehicle owners, demanding up to $7,000 in towing fees.

If you suspect you've encountered a fake car accident, experts recommend installing a dashcam to capture the true circumstances of the incident and emphasize the importance of calling the police after the accident, especially on highways, so that law enforcement can create an official accident report to protect your rights.