Staged vehicle collisions and how to avoid them

What is a staged collision?

In many cases, collisions are staged to make an insurance claim and pocket some money from the settlement. Many schemes involve the perpetrators faking or exaggerating their injuries to claim medical benefits or lost wage coverage.

The scammers may also threaten the victim with legal action, offering to drop the matter in exchange for a cash payment. Or, offering not to report the collision to their insurer, again, in exchange for cash.

Some scams involve complicit tow trucks, body shops, legal advisors, or other parties. They may have a tow truck waiting nearby, offering to tow the victim’s car to a specific garage for repairs. Any stage of the process could involve extortion.

In short, there are many ways that someone might profit from a staged collision, and all of them are illegal.

Common types of staged car accidents

There are several common setups that scammers use to stage collisions. They choose these scenarios because (under non-fraud circumstances) the victim is more likely to be the one assigned fault for the crash. This increases the chances that the scammers succeed in extorting money or filing a fraudulent insurance claim.

Here are some common maneuvers seen in staged collisions.

Swoop and squat

This scam involves two perpetrators’ vehicles and takes place on a roadway. The first car will position itself in front of the victim’s car. The second car then swoops in front of both, brakes suddenly, resulting in the victim car rear-ending the first car.

Typically, the rear vehicle in a rear-end collision is at fault.¹ The victim would have to prove that the lead car caused the collision, which is much easier said than done.

Bullet left turn

In this setup, the victim is waiting at an intersection to make a left turn, and the perpetrator is on the other side. Instead of proceeding through the intersection, they wave the victim through. Once the victim proceeds with their turn, they accelerate into the victim’s car, resulting in a T-bone collision (or close to it).

Of course, the scammer would argue that they did not wave, and that the victim should have yielded the right of way as a left-turning vehicle normally would.

Drive down

This scam is staged in a parking lot. As the victim reverses out of a parking spot, the scammer will wave them on. As they do, the scammer will accelerate into the victim’s car. Fault for such an accident is usually assigned to the reversing driver; it’s their responsibility to ensure the coast is clear before they exit the parking spot.²

Wave-in

The wave-in occurs on a busy highway with frequent merging and lane changes. As the victim’s car attempts to switch lanes, the scammer will wave them in. While the victim is changing lanes, the perpetrator suddenly accelerates, causing a collision. They’ll later deny ever having waved the victim in, of course, claiming that the victim

Under regular fault determination rules, the vehicle actively changing lanes is at fault for a collision with a vehicle in the other lane.¹

Sideswipe

This maneuver occurs on roads with at least two lanes moving in the same direction, often at dual left turn lanes. The perpetrator car watches for a vehicle in the other lane to drift out of their lane and promptly swerves into them, resulting in a side-on-side collision. Though many sideswipe collisions result in 50/50 fault between the two drivers, a vehicle that’s drifted over a lane separation line can be 100% at fault.³

How to avoid being victimized by a staged collision

Luckily, you’re not defenseless against scammers and staged collisions. Here are some basic precautions you can take:

1. Drive alertly and defensively. To avoid being tricked into a rear-end collision, maintain a safe following distance on the road — at least three seconds on the highway, and more in poor driving conditions.⁴ In general, pay attention to the vehicles around you and leave extra space if you see a vehicle acting oddly.
2. Follow right-of-way rules. You may have noticed that several staged collision scams involve the scammer waving the victim onward. Always follow right-of-way rules at intersections, even if someone waves you through. Even if it’s just another driver being friendly, it’s unsafe — rights-of-way exist for a reason.
3. Be wary of waving. In fact, be extremely cautious whenever another driver is waving you on. Don’t let other drivers dictate your actions, whether it’s backing out of a parking spot or merging on the freeway. Maneuver only when you personally feel it’s safe.
4. Back into parking spots. If you’re comfortable doing so, it’s always safer to back into a parking spot. It gives you a wider field of vision when you exit, helping you avoid a parking lot accident.⁵
5. Get a dashcam. A dashcam can help you properly establish fault for any collision. But they can be particularly helpful in avoiding liability for a staged collision. For example, in one high-profile case in 2024, a Brooklyn man went viral on social media when a dashcam captured an attempted staged collision.

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How to spot a staged collision

Given that staged collisions are meant to look unintentional, it can be difficult to spot them. Here are a few things to consider:

• The suspect was driving in an erratic or unusual way right before the crash.
• Others involved in the crash complain of severe pain (especially neck, back, or head pain) despite minimal damage to the vehicles.
• The suspects suddenly act more injured or exaggerate injuries after first responders arrive
• Suspicious witnesses appear immediately after the crash.
• A tow truck arrives promptly without having been called.
• Someone at the scene suggests calling a specific towing company or recommends a specific garage for repairs.
• The suspects ask you for cash settlements at the scene.

What to do if you’ve been involved in a collision

If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a staged collision, start by following the steps you’d usually follow after a vehicle accident: check for injuries and prioritize the safety of yourself and everyone else involved.

Then, if you suspect a staged collision, follow these steps:

1. Report the incident

If you suspect any foul play, don’t hesitate to call the police.

You must always report a collision to police if anyone is injured. In Ontario, you’re also required to call the police if it appears that there’s at least $5,000 worth of damage to the involved vehicles.⁶

You also should call the police in the event of a hit-and-run, or if you suspect criminal behaviour like impaired driving or, yes, a staged collision.

2. Collect detailed information

After any collision, document as much as possible. Take photos of the vehicles and the scene. Write down details about each involved driver: driver’s licence numbers, insurance information, and licence plate numbers.

Take note of the number of drivers and passengers involved, and the descriptions of each. Some staged collision scams will try to add people to their stories later. Note everyone’s behaviour, particularly regarding injuries.

If there are witnesses, get their contact information as well. But be wary — many staged accidents involve their own witnesses to corroborate the scammers’ fake story.

Record as much detail as you can about the incident while it’s fresh in your mind. That includes details about how the collision occurred, as well as weather and road conditions and anything else you think might be relevant later.

3. Be wary of referrals

Some staged collision scams involve tow trucks, body shops, or even lawyers. If anyone at the scene refers you to any of these services, be extremely cautious.

Rather than taking their recommendation, you should speak with your car insurance provider as soon as possible. They will help you arrange for towing, repairs, and other services from trusted providers.

And, note any attempted referrals and report them to your claims adjuster.⁷

4. Be careful about who you speak with

For the most part, you should speak only with the police or representatives of your insurance provider. Let them know if you have any suspicions about the incident.

You do want to collect information from others involved in the accident, but only if they’re cooperative. Don’t bother arguing with others at the scene, and certainly don’t admit any wrongdoing.

Some scammers will ask you to pay them cash to avoid reporting the crash to your (or their) insurer. Don’t accept — it’s your responsibility to report all collisions to your insurer. You don’t necessarily have to proceed with a claim, but you do have to inform them.

Insurance considerations

The car insurance aspect of a staged collision can be complicated. After all, the scammers are often trying to commit insurance fraud.

Your car insurance policy will still function like normal if you’re the victim of a staged collision. Coverage for injuries and related costs (called accident benefits) will always be available.

Coverage for damage to the vehicle gets a little more complex. It depends on whether the scammers are successful in their deception or not. This is why it’s important to document the incident thoroughly — no one wants to see criminals succeed.

• If it can’t be proven that the collision was staged, fault for the accident may be assigned to the victim (depending on the details of the collision). In this case, the victim would need collision coverage to cover the damage to their vehicle.
• If it is proven that the collision was staged, the regular rules for determining accident fault wouldn’t apply. Instead, since the scammer committed a crime, the regular legal process would decide penalties and restitution.¹ However, since the victim wasn’t at fault in this case, their DCPD coverage (in Ontario) or DCA coverage (in Quebec) would cover repairs to their car. That’s just one reason why it’s highly recommended that drivers include DCPD or DCA coverage on their car insurance policies.

In any case, it’s essential to report a collision to your insurance provider as soon as possible. Your adjuster will explain your coverage options and guide you through the process.

Commonly asked questions

What are the consequences of staging a collision?

The punishment for staging a vehicle collision depends on the situation. If the perpetrator was trying to commit car insurance fraud, for example, the punishment is up to two years in prison for fraud under $5,000 and up to 14 years for fraud over $5,000.⁸

Regardless of any fraud, intentionally causing a vehicle crash may result in additional convictions. Dangerous operation, aggravated assault, and many other hybrid or indictable offences are possible.

How do you prevent insurance fraud after a collision?

For your part, all you have to do to avoid committing insurance fraud is to be honest. When speaking with your insurance adjuster, answer their questions completely and honestly.

After a collision, speak only with the police or with your insurer, unless you’re simply collecting information from others involved. Vigilance is key — document the accident thoroughly, don’t sign any blank forms or forms you don’t understand, and report any suspicious behaviour.

How do you report car insurance fraud?

Fraud, including insurance fraud, is a crime. Accordingly, you can report it to the police or anonymously to Crime Stoppers.

In the case of a suspected staged collision, you should also inform your insurance adjuster. They’ll be able to help you navigate the situation.

Sources

1. Insurance Act. “R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 668: Fault Determination Rules.” Government of Ontario, www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900668. Accessed 30 December 2025.
2. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. “Crash while reversing from a parking spot.” icbc.com, www.icbc.com/claims/crash-responsibility-fault/crash-examples/Reversing-from-parking-spot-crash. Accessed 30 December 2025.
3. Groupement des assureurs automobiles. “Identifying your loss.” gaa.qc.ca, gaa.qc.ca/en/direct-compensation-agreement/identifying-your-loss/stage-4-case-4/. Accessed 30 December 2025.
4. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. “Speed.” icbc.com, www.icbc.com/road-safety/crashes-happen/speed. Accessed 30 December 2025.
5. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. “Parking lot safety.” icbc.com, www.icbc.com/road-safety/crashes-happen/parking-lot-safety. Accessed 30 December 2025.
6. Highway Traffic Act. “R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 596, s 11.” Government of Ontario, canlii.ca/t/tjq#sec11. Accessed on 30 December 2025.
7. Financial Services Commission of Ontario. “Staged Auto Accidents: Protect Yourself from this Fraud.” fsrao.ca, 28 February 2017, www.fsrao.ca/media/7521/download.
8. Criminal Code of Canada. “R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46.” laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-380.html. Accessed 30 December 2025.

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