The number of suspicious auto accidents that were staged or deliberately caused by criminals in Florida has increased dramatically in the past year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The independent organization said on June 29, 2010, the number of questionable claims submitted to its insurance company members shows a 58 percent jump from 2008 to 2009.
This comes to no surprise to those of us at United Automobile Insurance Co. (UAIC) who fight insurance fraud every day. We see fake accidents and fake injuries all the time.
The report, shows the following trends in Florida:
- Tampa had 487 questionable claims related to staged or caused accidents in 2009, a 290 percent increase over the previous year.
- Miami had 258 questionable claims, an 11 percent increase year to year.
- Orlando had 240 questionable claims, a 24 percent increase.
South Florida was the hotbed of staged crashes, according to the bureau. While the Miami and Hialeah areas continue to show increased activity, criminals have moved north and Tampa Bay is now the center of this crime trend.
The number of questionable claims for all insurance fraud increased 15 percent from 2008 to 2009 in Florida. But the 58 percent jump in the staged accident category shows that criminals are taking advantage of the state’s no-fault auto accident coverage, the bureau said. Florida had the highest rates of fraud in both bodily injury and personal injury protection among states with no-fault insurance.
We have been telling legislators, regulators and law enforcement officials for years that Florida is the epicenter of PIP fraud. Now we have the numbers to back that up.
To combat the problem, the bureau created a task force in South Florida in 2002. The success of the program pushed criminals to Tampa and Orlando areas. Staying in pursuit, the bureau will soon open another major medical fraud task force in Tampa.
The bureau has launched a public awareness campaign in the Tampa Bay area, using billboard and bus shelter ads, as well as radio spots to urge people who suspect a staged accident scheme to call 1-800-TEL-NICB or text their information to TIP411, keyword “fraud.”
We urge every driver in the Tampa Bay area and around the state to report fraud when you see it. You will be bringing criminals to justice and could see your insurance premiums drop if we all do enough to stamp out fake claims.
