In a stunning revelation of insurance fraud, a driver from Hubei Province has been apprehended by police for deliberately causing collisions with other vehicles to defraud insurance companies. The suspect, identified as Li, drove an Uber car and targeted vehicles that were attempting to cut in line, resulting in a staggering 222 accidents within a year. The fraudulent activities, which involved 21 insurance companies, yielded a total of 610,000 yuan (approximately $86,000) in insurance claims.
The fraudulent scheme, which was discovered only after a victim filed a complaint, involved Li strategically positioning his car to create collisions. He would故意 leave a small distance between his vehicle and the one ahead, creating a gap for vehicles trying to cut in line. Once a car attempted to maneuver into the space, Li would accelerate slightly and collide with the car, causing damage.
According to a report by IT之家, Li’s method was particularly deceptive. He managed to carry out over 200 such incidents before his scheme was uncovered. The first victim, who was trying to change lanes, recalled that he was almost finished when he was suddenly rear-ended by an Uber car. He, as the driver attempting to change lanes, was held responsible for the accident. However, after reviewing the accident at the local traffic police department, it was discovered that the Uber car had a noticeable slight acceleration before the collision, raising suspicions of deliberate action.
Further investigation revealed that Li’s Uber car was involved in 222 traffic accidents within a year, all with a similar pattern. He would deliberately leave space for vehicles trying to cut in line, waiting for them to take the bait, and then collide with them, causing accidents. Despite being the initiating party in the collisions, Li was able to benefit from the situations. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law Implementation Regulations, a vehicle changing lanes is not allowed to affect the normal driving of other vehicles in the relevant lane. Therefore, Li, as a vehicle changing lanes, was exempted from liability, not only escaping without a scratch but also making the colliding vehicle, which was trying to cut in line, bear the loss of the accident, thus turning it into a means of profit.
In addition to vehicle damage, such as taxis and ride-sharing vehicles like Uber, often claim losses due to being unable to operate due to vehicle repairs, around 300 yuan per day. The police investigation found that over the past year, 21 insurance companies paid Li a total of 610,000 yuan in insurance claims for the accidents he created. Li’s actions constitute insurance fraud and he has been detained by the police.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such fraudulent activities. It serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers and consequences of insurance fraud, not only to the insurance companies but also to innocent victims who are caught in the crossfire of such fraudulent schemes.
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