Disturbing Trend in Florida’s Staged Traffic Accident Rate
There has been a dramatic increase in staged car accidents in South Florida that has tangible affects on all Florida drivers.
Some incorrigible folks commit insurance fraud in a rather outrageous way. These individuals will purposely crash a car then pile into the damaged vehicle, call emergency responders and claim they are injured. Under Florida insurance law, each person in the damaged car is entitled to up to $10,000 to cover medical costs as a result of the "accident" if they carry personal insurance protection. A team of five people could earn upwards of $50,000 for a single staged accident.
The Sunshine State requires all drivers to purchase personal insurance protection, known as PIP, before they can register their vehicles with the state. PIP coverage allows injured drivers to claim up to $10,000 in medical costs automatically, according to Dan Dannenhauer, a representative of Five County Insurance Agency. Since Florida is a no-fault state, drivers who cause car crashes can also collect PIP awards. Since 2008, PIP payouts have increased by one billion dollars.
Staged accidents have an impact on registered drivers across Florida. This type of insurance fraud was estimated to increase insurance costs for all Florida drivers almost $50 in 2010. This number will only continue to increase, unfortunately, unless the upward trend in staged accidents can be reversed. The National Insurance Crime Bureau found that staged crashes in Hillsborough County increased from 514 in 2009 to a whopping 824 in 2010. Miami-Dade experienced a similar increase in staged accidents.
Fortunately, law enforcement agencies are noticing a trend in the drivers involved in these types of accidents. While most drivers are only involved in an average of one accident per decade, drivers suspected of staging accidents are involved in many, many more. For example, staged accident suspect Reinaldo Marin has been in 12 crashes since 2007 and was the driver in nine of them.
It is important that law enforcement to crack down on staged accident perpetrators. A Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney says it will help keep insurance costs down and decrease auto accidents for all Floridians. If you believe you have witnessed a staged accident, be sure to alert law enforcement immediately of the suspected activity.
