Insurer special investigations units (SIU) in Florida are likely working overtime these days. Just weeks after news broke that Direct General Insurance Co.’s SIU, in concert with local law enforcement, cracked a major auto insurance fraud ring in Central Florida, a new study from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) finds that the Sunshine State dramatically outpaces the other 49 with the most Staged/Caused Accident Questionable Claims (QC) from 2007 to 2009. Florida racked up a whopping 3,006 QCs, which accounted for 26.3% of all QCs across the nation during this time.

Unfortunately for insurers, the situation in Florida wasn’t just an aberration. NICB data shows that QCs increased 46% overall from 2007 through 2009. Additionally, the ratio of staged-accident QCs to overall bodily injury (BI) and personal injury protection (PIP) claims has increased over this period while the total number of BI and PIP claims has declined.

The top five states that generated the most staged-accident QCs were:

1. Florida — 3,006

2. New York — 1,680

3. California — 1,619

4. Texas — 792

5. Illinois — 433

 

The five cities that generated the most staged-accident QCs were:

1. New York City — 1,304

2. Tampa — 562

3. Miami — 511

4. Orlando — 422

5. Houston — 376

 

Additionally, the policy type that accounted for the overwhelming majority of QCs was personal auto (9,078, or 79.4% of all QCs). NICB says this trend implies that most of the staged/caused accidents occur with an individual’s own personal-use vehicle. Also, bodily injury topped the types of loss among QCs (5,277, or 46.1%). 

Similar Posts:

Share