Andy Paras with “The Post and Courier”, reported on an insurance scheme that was uncovered in Colleton County. It appears the same group of people were reporting similar incidents in the same area. As the article indicated,
“ The scheme was relatively simple: Run an older car into a tree and claim that someone or something ran you off, then say a bunch of your friends and relatives were injured while in the car with you in order to claim more money, court records show."
I am happy to see that some bad apples were caught so as not to spoil the whole bunch, compunctum cito corrumpit sibi junctum.
It is important to remember that if you are in a wreck, the more details, proof, or evidence you can present, the better able both your attorney and the potential at fault driver’s insurance company will be able to assist you. Some helpful tips from someone that has settled, taken to trial, and/or mediated hundreds of wreck cases:
- Keep a camera, disposable or digital, in your car! If something bad happens take as many pictures as you can of the accident site, property damage (both visible and not readily visible[frame] of all cars or things involved), skid marks, witnesses, at fault driver, posted speed signs or traffic signals. You can buy disposable cameras for less than $2.
- Take down any witnesses contact information and DO NOT assume that the highway patrolman or investigating officer has gotten that information. (People do lie, sorry to break the bad news).
- The accident report you are given can not be used in the courts of South Carolina as proof that it is the other driver’s fault, as indicated on the accident report. Do not depend on this one sheet of paper to prove the other person was at fault. (Take a look at Article IV of our Evidentiary Rules to see what else the jury will never hear about in court).
- Are you really taken care of if the at fault driver has no insurance or minimum insurance? Read my article on "Full Coverage".
- MIST-Minor Impact Soft Tissue is an acronym some insurance companies use (Allstate) to try and minimize their financial impact and publicize a subconscious thought of an unproven theory. Their theory is that the correlation of property damage is relative to personal injury. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Read this article entitled "Low Impact Injury Accidents".
You would not go to "Joe the Plumber" to get your car fixed? Think long and hard before just consulting with the at fault driver’s insurance company that makes money when they get you to settle for less money than your case is worth. Consult a personal injury attorney, the CONSULTATION IS FREE!