New legislation would make staged accidents federal crimes

Trucking organizations are praising new legislation that would make staging a fake accident with a motor vehicle a federal crime.

Representatives Mike Collins (Georgia-10) and Brandon Gill (Texas-26) earlier this week introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act to make intentionally staging a crash with a motor vehicle a federal crime. 

“Criminal elements are launching an assault against America’s truckers, in the courtroom and on our roads,” said Collins. “Staged accidents take advantage of truckers’ high insurance coverage and make them prime targets for criminals looking for a quick payday, saddling truckers with millions of dollars in inflated damages, increasing insurance premiums for all Americans, and driving up the costs for every transported goods.”

Trucking organizations reacted to the new legislation as the industry faces the prospect of large jury settlements in accident lawsuits.

“When con artists seeking a big payday intentionally collide with commercial motor vehicles, their reckless disregard for safety puts innocent truck drivers and the motoring public at risk,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “These unscrupulous individuals perpetuate their selfish actions by filing frivolous lawsuits against honest trucking companies, raising costs for consumer goods and contributing to soaring insurance premiums. ATA commends Congressmen Mike Collins and Brandon Gill for introducing the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act, which would close legal loopholes that criminals are exploiting to attack America’s hardworking truckers.”

“On behalf of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association, hundreds of family-owned trucking interests, and Georgia’s 74,000+ truckers, we stand in strong support of the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act sponsored by Georgia’s own Congressman Mike Collins,” said Seth Millican, president and CEO of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association. “The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act will provide desperately needed federal guardrails and accountability structures for these growing threats.”

“Staged accidents are not victimless crimes. 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,” said Lewie Pugh, executive vice president, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “OOIDA and our 150,000 members support Representative Collins and his commonsense legislation to protect law-abiding truckers from sophisticated criminal fraud schemes that exploit the hardworking men and women behind the wheel.” 

“The Texas Trucking Association strongly supports the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2025,” said John D. Esparza, president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association. This critical legislation will protect hardworking truck drivers and companies from the growing threat of staged accidents, which jeopardizes road safety and imposes significant financial burdens on the trucking industry.”

A wide range of schemes in recent years have targeted trucking companies, and these sophisticated fraudsters often have ties to organized crime, according to the ATA.  One such criminal ring was exposed in Louisiana for staging accidents with unsuspecting commercial trucks beginning in 2011.  To date, 63 people have been indicted in the federal probe into this conspiracy, including plaintiff attorneys who are alleged to have been the masterminds.