Washington, DC – Representative Mike Collins (GA-10) led a letter today to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting the establishment of a specialized task force dedicated to investigating and prosecuting staged accident fraud.
“Criminal elements are launching an assault against America’s truckers, in the courtroom and on our roads. Staged accidents take advantage of truckers’ high insurance coverage and make them prime targets for criminals looking for a quick payday, saddling truckers with millions of dollars in inflated damages, increasing insurance premiums for all Americans, and driving up the costs for every transported good,” said Rep. Mike Collins. “These fraudsters and their co-conspirators need to be held accountable for their actions and put in jail for making every one of us less safe on the roads.”
Rep. Patronis said, “Staged accidents and insurance fraud are not victimless crimes, and they drive up premiums for every hardworking Floridian. My office stands ready to work hand-in-hand with Attorney General Pam Bondi, fraud investigators, and congressional colleagues to protect consumers by rooting out these fraudsters and holding them accountable. We must send a clear message – if you commit insurance fraud, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.”
"Staged accident fraud raises insurance rates and jeopardizes the safety of motorists. The criminal networks behind these fraud schemes must be pursued, dismantled, and prosecuted to protect our communities and curb rising insurance costs," said Rep. Gooden.
“Fraudulent insurance claims from staged vehicle accidents are rapidly increasing, negatively impacting public safety, driving up consumer costs, and raising insurance premiums. I am glad to join my colleagues in requesting that Attorney General Pam Bondi create a task force to put an end to these organized fraudsters’ schemes. No one in this country should be able to profit off breaking the law and the time to end it is now," said Rep. Tony Wied.
"Enhanced public awareness campaigns, increased enforcement, and stricter penalties for offenders are essential to deter these scams. Holding these criminal enterprises accountable for their actions will send a signal that the Administration is serious about restoring law and order," said Rep. Tom Barrett.
“Staged vehicle accidents enable scammers to endanger lives, drive up insurance premiums, and diminish public trust in the safety of our roads,” said Rep. Grothman. “Staging a crash is not an opportunity to make a quick cash grab; it’s a federal crime with serious consequences. I’m proud to join Representative Mike Collins in urging the DOJ to create a task force to crack down on these fraudulent scammers, ensure our roads are safe, and minimize costs for hardworking Americans.”
"We commend Rep. Collins and his colleagues for their leadership on this effort. This task force will bring much-needed coordination and oversight to address a growing problem of insurance fraud. These schemes put the driving public at risk and contribute to higher costs for American consumers. We are pleased to see Congressional focus on this important matter,” said Uber Head of Federal Affairs Javi Correoso.
“When con artists seeking a big payday intentionally collide with commercial motor vehicles, their reckless disregard for safety puts innocent truck drivers and the motoring public at risk. These unscrupulous individuals perpetuate their selfish actions by filing frivolous lawsuits against honest trucking companies, raising costs for consumer goods and inflating insurance premiums,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “ATA strongly encourages Attorney General Bondi to crack down on this dangerous lawlessness by establishing a specialized task force dedicated to holding these criminals accountable, and we thank Congressman Collins for spearheading this effort to protect America's hardworking truckers.”
“Staged accidents are not victimless crimes. These are calculated, premeditated assaults that endanger lives, destroy livelihoods, and compromise highway safety. To add insult to injury, criminals abuse the legal system for profit through false accusations and lawsuits, which contribute to skyrocketing insurance premiums for small trucking businesses,” said Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “OOIDA and our 150,000 members support Representative Collins’ efforts to protect law-abiding truckers from sophisticated criminal fraud schemes that exploit the hardworking men and women behind the wheel.”
Background
There has been a rise of con-artists defrauding the insurance industry by intentionally colliding with commercial vehicles in order to win damages from lawsuits. This form of insurance fraud poses a threat to public safety, drives up consumer costs, and strains the insurance system. States such as Louisiana, Florida, New York, and Georgia have uncovered elaborate conspiracies to defraud insurance companies that involve plaintiff attorneys, medical providers, and recruiters, many of whom are tied to organized crime and human trafficking.
With decades of experience in the Georgia trucking industry, Rep. Mike Collins brings firsthand knowledge of this rising problem to Congress.
This follows Collins’s introduction of the Staged Accident Prevention Act, which makes staging a vehicular accident a federal crime.
