Earlier this week, the American Trucking Associations applauded Congressman Mike Collins (R-Georgia) for continuing to lead the effort to stop the costly and risky practice of criminals purposefully crashing into trucks in an attempt to shakedown motor carriers for a payout.
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that was co-signed by six of his colleagues, Congressman Collins urged the Trump Administration to form a specialized task force dedicated to investigating and prosecuting staged accident fraud.
“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 inflating insurance premiums."
“ATA strongly encourages Attorney General Bondi to crack down on this dangerous lawlessness by establishing a specialized task force dedicated to holding these criminals accountable, and we thank Congressman Collins for spearheading this effort to protect America's hardworking truckers."
ATA said a wide range of schemes in recent years have targeted trucking companies, and these sophisticated fraudsters often have ties to organized crime. This perilous, pervasive phenomenon manipulates the legal system to extort trucking companies for settlements upwards of seven-figures.
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.
To stem the tide, Congressman Collins is recommending the Attorney General organize the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, local police departments, businesses, and the public to help identify and dismantle criminal enterprises.
In addition to Congressman Collins, the letter was signed by Congressmen Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Tony Wied (R-Wisconsin), Tom Barrett (R-Michigan), Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin), Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin), and Jimmy Patronis (R-Florida).
