{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-introduces-staged-accident-fraud-prevention-act-to-protect-all-drivers-on-our-roads-and-prevent-con-artists-from-driving-up-the-cost-of-insurance/", "Senator Moody Introduces Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act to Protect All Drivers on our Roads and Prevent Con Artists from Driving up the Cost of Insurance", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Ashley Moody", "M001244", "www.moody.senate.gov", "moody", "https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Senator Ashley Moody introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act, legislation that would extend criminal penalties to make intentionally staging an accident with a commercial motor vehicle a federal crime.\n\n\u201cWith over 450,000 trucking jobs in Florida, it is safe to say that truck drivers keep the economy moving. Unfortunately, there are crazed and dangerous fraudsters out there who would rather put people\u2019s lives in danger for a quick payday instead of making an honest living putting in a hard day\u2019s work. Anyone who stages or helps stage an accident with a commercial motor vehicle endangers people\u2019s lives and livelihoods. 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,\u201d said Senator Ashley Moody.\n\nAmerican Trucking Associations: \u201cWhen 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. The frivolous lawsuits these rapacious individuals file against honest trucking companies contribute to soaring insurance premiums and raise costs for consumer goods,\u201d said American Trucking Associations Chief Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer Henry Hanscom. \u201cATA commends Senator Ashley Moody for introducing the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act, which would close legal loopholes that criminals are exploiting to target America\u2019s hardworking truckers. By establishing clear, enforceable criminal penalties, we can finally put an end to this dangerous and costly practice.\u201d\n\nFlorida Trucking Association: \u201cFlorida\u2019s trucking industry doesn\u2019t just move freight\u2014it also bears the cost of organized fraud. Staged crashes put innocent motorists and professional truck drivers at risk, while driving up insurance costs for carriers, businesses, and consumers alike,\u201d said Florida Trucking Association President & CEO Scott Perry. \u201cWe appreciate Senator Moody\u2019s leadership in giving law enforcement additional tools to combat these dangerous criminal enterprises.\u201d\n\nU.S. Chamber of Commerce: \u201cStaged accidents are a dangerous and costly crisis that is threatening public safety and household budgets across America,\u201d said President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce\u2019s Institute for Legal Reform Stephen Waguespack. \u201cSenator Moody\u2019s leadership on the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act builds on the momentum to put a stop to these organized crime rings that specifically target trucking businesses.\u201d\n\nIndependent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America: \u201cThe Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America applauds Senator Moody for introducing legislation to crack down on staged accidents that endanger motorists, disrupt supply chains and fuel lawsuit abuse. This commonsense measure will help deter insurance fraud, reduce unnecessary litigation costs and ease the pressure of rising insurance premiums on responsible commercial operators and consumers nationwide,\u201d said IIABA SVP of Federal Government Affairs Nathan Riedel.\n\nOwner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: \u201cStaged 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,\u201d said Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. \u201cOOIDA and our nearly 150,000 members support Senator Moody and her commonsense legislation to protect law-abiding truckers from sophisticated criminal fraud schemes that exploit the hardworking men and women behind the wheel.\u201d\n\nNational Tank Truck Carriers: \u201cStaged accidents are deliberate criminal acts that put professional drivers, the motoring public, and our nation\u2019s supply chain at risk. Tank truck carriers operate the safest and most highly regulated vehicles on the road, yet they remain attractive targets for fraud schemes that exploit the legal system while driving up insurance costs for carriers, shippers, and ultimately consumers. The National Tank Truck Carriers strongly supports the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act because it establishes meaningful federal penalties to deter these dangerous crimes and hold everyone involved in these fraudulent schemes accountable. We commend Senator Ashley Moody for introducing this important legislation in the Senate, as well as Representatives Mike Collins and Brandon Gill for leading its introduction in the House. Their leadership will help protect hardworking truck drivers, strengthen highway safety, and combat the costly fraud schemes that threaten our industry,\u201d said National Tank Truck Carriers President & CEO Ryan Streblow.\n\nTruck Renting and Leasing Association: \u201cThe Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) supports and endorses the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act. The ever-increasing use of these staged accidents not only cause disruptions, endanger lives, and harm highway safety, but they are also a contributing factor to the out-of-control lawsuit abuse that occurs due to these bad actors, leading to increased insurance costs and a disruption in the supply chain for all Americans,\u201d said TRALA President & CEO Jake Jacoby. \u201cWe applaud Congressman Mike Collins and Senator Ashley Moody for their leadership in tackling this critical commonsense issue and our members \u2013 who represent approximately 30% of all newly purchased commercial over-the-road trucks and tractors \u2013 stand ready to support this legislation and have it enacted into law.\u201d\n\nAmerican Bus Association: \u201cThe American Bus Association is proud to support the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act,\u201d said Fred Ferguson, President and CEO of the American Bus Association. \u201cABA applauds Senator Ashley Moody for leading this important effort in the Senate, building on the leadership of Representatives Mike Collins and Brandon Gill in the House. Staged collisions are deliberate criminal acts that endanger professional drivers, motorcoach passengers, and everyone else on the road. Beyond the immediate safety risks, these schemes fuel fraudulent insurance claims, increase litigation costs, and contribute to the rising insurance premiums that continue to challenge responsible motorcoach operators nationwide. By providing federal law enforcement with another tool to investigate and prosecute those who intentionally target commercial vehicles, this legislation will help protect the traveling public, strengthen accountability, and support the safe, reliable transportation services that millions of Americans depend on every year.\u201d\n\nNational Motor Freight Traffic Association: \u201cThe trucking industry cannot afford to let staged accident schemes continue putting professional truck drivers, motor carriers, and the motoring public at risk. NMFTA strongly supports the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act and commends Senator Ashley Moody as well as Representatives Collins and Gill for leading this effort to hold those responsible criminally accountable. By targeting organized fraud at its source, this legislation represents a critical step toward safeguarding our nation\u2019s freight network and the millions of Americans who depend on it every day,\u201d said NMFTA Chief Operations and Technical Officer Joe Ohr.\n\nInternational Warehouse Logistics Association: \u201cStaged accidents are not simply fraudulent insurance claims \u2014 they are deliberate criminal acts that put drivers, passengers, and the public at risk. The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act would provide a strong federal deterrent against these dangerous schemes and help protect the hardworking men and women who keep our nation\u2019s supply chain moving. IWLA thanks Senator Moody for bringing this important legislation to the Senate and urges Congress to advance this commonsense measure,\u201d said IWLA President & CEO Jay Strother.\n\nNational Association of Mutual Insurance Companies: \u201cEvery day, staged accidents and fraudulent schemes put innocent lives at risk and raise costs for every American. The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act will help coordinate law enforcement in combatting these sophisticated crime rings and bring the weight of federal law to stopping them. NAMIC commends Senator Moody for her leadership on this issue and for working to lower costs and make Americans safer on our roads and highways,\u201d said NAMIC Senior Vice President of Federal & Political Affairs Jimi Grande.\n\nInternational Foodservice Distributors Association: \u201cStaged accidents are a growing threat to the drivers who move our nation\u2019s food supply and to the businesses that depend on them. IFDA is proud to support the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act,\u201d said Mala Parker, Senior Vice President of Government & Public Affairs. \u201cThanks to Senator Moody for championing this commonsense measure to hold bad actors accountable. These staged collisions have resulted in escalating insurance premiums and fueled the rise of so-called nuclear verdicts, both of which lead to higher costs for consumers. The nation\u2019s foodservice distributors, and the customers who count on them, deserve nothing less than the passage of this legislation.\u201d\n\nTransportation Intermediaries Association: \u201cStaged accidents are fraudulent schemes that hit brokers and carriers alike, and the criminals responsible drive up costs for everyone in the supply chain, which represents the $343 billion third-party logistics industry. \u201cTIA fully supports the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act, which takes concrete steps to crack down on fraud and hold these bad actors and their co-conspirators accountable \u2013 and in doing so, will keep the traveling public safe and bolster supply chain resilience,\u201d said President & CEO Chris Burroughs.\n\nThe Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act is also supported by:\n\nAssociated Industries of Florida\n\nTruckload Carriers Association\n\nGeorgia Motor Trucking Association\n\nTexas Trucking Association\n\nAmerican Property Casualty Insurance Association\n\nAmerican Tort Reform Association\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nDespite an increase in staged truck accidents, few states have taken action to combat staged accident fraud schemes.\n\nA notable example of this staged fraud occurred multiple times in Louisiana, where scammers over the course of 5 years caused dozens of intentional crashes with 18 wheelers.\n\nFollowing an FBI investigation into these kinds of accidents, Danny Patrick Keating, a personal injury attorney, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Keating admitted to paying another cooperating government witness, Damien Labeaud, to stage 31 accidents.\n\nKeating told investigators he represented 77 plaintiffs in subsequent lawsuits. Federal authorities say such fake crashes predominantly took place in New Orleans East and Gentilly, often close to one truck stop.\n\nFlorida is one of the nation\u2019s largest freight hubs, supporting more than 460,000 trucking industry jobs and over 130,000 trucking companies.\n\nThe Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act would:\n\nMake intentionally staging a collision with a commercial motor vehicle a federal criminal offense.\n\nEstablish criminal penalties for individuals who organize or participate in staged crashes\n\nHold attorneys, physicians, and other co-conspirators accountable if they knowingly participate in this fraud.\n\nThis legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Collins (GA-10) and Brandon Gill (TX-26).\n\nRead full bill text here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-moody-introduces-staged-accident-fraud-prevention-act-to-protect-all-drivers-on-our-roads-and-prevent-con-artists-from-driving-up-the-cost-of-insurance/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9937008619308472, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}