Importance of Trace Evidence Study in Determining Road Traffic Accident Circumstances in order to Prevent Insurance Fraud

Abstract

The authors, on the basis of analysis of growing motorization, particularly at the regional level (using the example of Penza region of the Russian Federation) confirm the urgency of the tasks of preserving life and health of road users, note changes in frequency of accidents of various origin, the positive role of insurance instruments in dealing with the consequences of road traffic accidents.At the same time, fraud in the field of compulsory motor third party liability insurance (MTPL) is one of the most important and urgent issues for insurance companies. One of the most common schemes of fictitious accidents is an attempt to get repair or replacement of existing damage at the expense of the insurer. In this regard, the use of transport trace evidence examinations has become widespread.It is this type of transport expertise that reliably and accurately determines conformity of damage to vehicles to the mechanism and circumstances of a road traffic accident. Trace evidence analysis is always assigned when it comes to currently notorious «staged crash». It is impossible to understand the nature of accidents associated with lane change by vehicles moving along the way without study of trace materials. Particularly many problems arise in a situation where both participants in the accident claim that they were moving without changing the direction of movement, and that was the opponent who made a maneuver of lane change not complying with the requirement of the road traffic rules of the Russian Federation on priorities in traffic movement.As an example, the article presents an expert study of a road traffic accident that raised doubts about reliability of circumstances set out by policyholders.