A man stands accused of causing a fake accident in which he was apparently hit by an SUV in Brooklyn, according to recent reports. Police believe the man intentionally threw himself onto the hood of a Lexus SUV on 98th Street and Livonia Avenue in early February in order to collect insurance money. The driver of the SUV says that she slammed on brakes because she saw a shadow moving toward her car, only to see a man jump onto her hood and bounce to the ground. She described the incident as “horrifying.”
Fortunately, the entire episode was captured by surveillance cameras. The driver checked on the victim and called 911. The police reviewed the surveillance footage and believe that the incident was faked due to the fact that the alleged victim stood between cars for 30 minutes before leaning out and jumping onto the hood of the passing SUV.
Andre Richardson, 50, was arrested on a charge of reckless endangerment and filing a false report. He has already been arrested more than 20 times for unrelated incidents. He maintains that the incident was an accident.
Fake Accidents Take Away From Real Victims
Unfortunately, there are some people who are willing to try to defraud insurance companies and others in order to profit. Insurance experts estimate that as many as one in four insurance claims involve some level of falsification.
This is a sad reality because every staged accident and false claim takes away from true victims who may be suffering real injuries. These victims are more likely to be turned down for compensation by insurance companies who must put resources into investigating every claim for possible fraud. Therefore, attempting to defraud an insurance company is considered a crime and can carry relatively stiff penalties upon conviction.
What Can I Do If I Am Really Hurt?
If you have been the victim of an accident, it is very important that you protect your right to recover damages in your case. A personal injury attorney such as those at the Fitzgerald Law Firm in New York are ready to help you recover compensation to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other costs associated with your accident. Call today for a free consultation and learn more about how our personal injury attorneys can help you prove your claim is valid and recover damages in your case.