With auto insurance fraud becoming a major concern in Florida, a number of law enforcement agencies, business associations and state resident groups have come together to form the Gear Up Florida coalition. The coalition aims to combat fraud in the state and help protect consumers from the havoc it can cause on their finances. Insurance prices in Florida have been rising due to staged car accidents in recent years. The coalition believes that the primary cause of this lies in the state’s no-fault auto insurance laws. Though insurers often get…
Read MoreTag: Florida car insurance
Florida’s Governor Scott announces effort to beat auto insurance fraud
Governor Rick Scott from Florida spoke to citizens and other politicians about the problem of auto insurance fraud within the state, and announced that he would be looking to Hillsborough County in order to come up with ideas for overcoming it. Scott stated that they “have to get rid of fraud”. Many law enforcement officers and county officials sat with Scott as they discussed this goal. Jeff Atwater, the Chief Financial Officer in Florida, declared with Scott that they will be using Hillsborough as inspiration for their efforts to completely…
Read MoreInsurance group proposes new legislations as alternatives to Florida’s no-fault auto insurance regulations
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) has released a new report concerning the state of Florida’s personal injury protection (PIP) regulations. Florida lawmakers recently passed a new set of rules that govern the PIP insurance system, which established no-fault auto insurance laws in the state. The insurance group claims that the law also institutes a so called “fraud tax” which may drive up insurance prices in the state and put consumers at risk of being victimized by dubious business practices. PCI has proposed a number of legislations that…
Read MoreFlorida faces significant costs resulting from fraudulent no-fault claims
According to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), the imperfections of Florida’s no-fault car insurance system are causing abuse that is system-wide, and the number of fraudulent claims is larger than it has been at any other time. This national association issued a special report on the no-fault auto coverage in the state which showed that the resulting costs from the false claims have meant that drivers are paying over $800 billion more than they would otherwise be required. According to a senior vice president at PCI, Paul…
Read MoreUniversity of Miami summit highlights the increasing cost of auto insurance
A summit held at the University of Miami on the topic of insurance fraud provided those in attendance with the opportunity to exchange stories, request assistance, and talk about litigation that is directed at this rising issue. One of the favorite examples, which was shared by Mary Lathrop, a Florida Highway Patrol Captain, involved a fender bender in the south end of the state. One of the drivers noticed that there was one fewer people in the car when the accident occurred than there were when the police arrived on…
Read MoreStudy shows that millions of Americans drive drunk each year
– Could spur new drunk driving and insurance laws in Florida. A new study from Online Auto Insurance, an insurance organization that conducts regular research on a variety of issues facing the insurance industry, shows that millions of U.S. motorists drive drunk every year. The study highlights the need for stricter laws regarding drunk driving and notes that the sheer number of people driving under the influence of alcohol may be driving up insurance prices. The study corroborates findings from a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and…
Read MorePembroke Pines seeks lower insurance rates for its drivers citing safer streets
Officials of Pembroke Pines, Florida, are petitioning the insurance industry to lower rates on auto insurance due to the safety of the city’s streets. Pembroke Pines is the first city in Florida to seek lower rates from the industry as a whole rather than going through state-run agencies. City officials say that lower rates are well earned because of the safe driving practices of the city’s residents as well as several other measures in place to improve road safety overall. Insurers, however, are unlikely to appease the desires of the…
Read More