U.S. Senator Ashley Moody introduced legislation this week that would make intentionally staging a collision with a commercial motor vehicle a federal crime.
The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act would establish criminal penalties for individuals who organize or participate in staged crashes and would hold attorneys, physicians and other co-conspirators accountable if they knowingly take part in the fraud.
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“Anyone who stages or helps stage an accident with a commercial motor vehicle endangers people’s lives and livelihoods,” Moody said. “On top of that, these stunts run up insurance premiums for everyone. Unacceptable. This legislation sends a clear message: if you do this, you will be prosecuted.”
A growing threat to highways, supply chains
Despite a rise in staged truck accidents, Moody says few states have taken action to combat the fraud. A notable example unfolded in Louisiana, where she says scammers caused dozens of intentional crashes with 18-wheelers over five years. Following an FBI investigation, a personal injury attorney pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he paid a cooperating government witness to stage 31 accidents and represented 77 plaintiffs in subsequent lawsuits.
Industry groups say the ripple effects go far beyond the crashes themselves.
“Staged accidents are not victimless crimes,” said Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “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.”
Supporters of the bill
The legislation has drawn support from the American Trucking Associations, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Tank Truck Carriers, American Bus Association and others. Florida, one of the nation’s largest freight hubs with more than 460,000 trucking jobs and 130,000 trucking companies, has a particular stake in the outcome.
The bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Mike Collins of Georgia and Brandon Gill of Texas.