Staten Islanders hammered by car insurance rates
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A driver in Rochester pays an average of $103 for his no-fault car insurance premium. If that same driver lived on Staten Island, the estimated cost would be an average of $324.
The state as a whole pays the fourth highest premium in the country, behind Louisiana, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey -- and residents of the five boroughs account for a larger share than their upstate counterparts.
What's driving up the state's insurance rates? Fraudulent no-fault claims, according to advocates pushing for legislative reform that would include criminal penalties on a law enacted in 1974 to cut down on excess litigation.
"No-fault has been an issue in New York for a number of years," said Kristina Baldwin, assistant vice president of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
"Early around 2000 ... regulatory changes helped rein in the problem, but criminals are innovative. They came up with new ways to go after the $50,000 pot of no-fault benefits, and once again, it is creeping back up and reaching epidemic proportions."
New York -- one of 12 no-fault states -- requires insurance companies to pay drivers, passengers and pedestrians injured in car accidents up to $50,000 for economic losses related to employment or health care, without the requirement that victims prove fault on the part of the other driver.
No-fault fraud can take a number of shapes, including organized crime rings and medical mills staging accidents and filing claims for fake injuries, or sending "runners" to scope out real accident scenes and emergency rooms so they can steer victims to seek treatment from certain doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and lawyers.
"While there is fraud in other areas of the state, the no-fault fraud epidemic is concentrated in New York City," said Ms. Baldwin, also the chairwoman of the Fraud Costs New York Coalition, a base of elected officials, civic and business leaders and trade groups asking the governor to put reform on his 2012 agenda.
Washington State Car Accident No Insurance - News
By Stephanie Slepian STATEN ISLAND, NY -- A driver in Rochester pays an average of $103 for his no-fault car insurance premium. If that same driver lived on Staten Island, the estimated cost would be an average of $324. The state as a whole pays the
Most car insurance companies won't require a police report for a minor parking lot accident, says CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner. She suggests calling anyway. "Many times the police will tell you to exchange information on your own.
EVADING, OPERATION MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN LICENSE REVOKED, OPERATE UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLE, INSURANCE FAILS MINIMUM — On Nov. 21 at 9:29 am, police were called to a car accident at Washington Street and Park Place. The driver, in a Honda had fled the
Elected judges hear cases for accident claims under $50000, and you don't get re-elected by being stingy, Louisiana car insurance experts say. That reality contributes to an average bill for a 2011 model car of $2453, second-highest in the nation.
Physician's Group's website lists more than 50 clinics, part of a thriving pain-treatment specialty in car-crash medicine. His ask-Gary service is just one of the state's 72 registered referral networks, up from 10 five years ago.
Staten Islanders hammered by car insurance rates: Fraudulent no ...
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A driver in Rochester pays an average of $103 for his no-fault car insurance premium. If that same driver lived on Staten Island, the estimated cost would be an average of $324.
The state as a whole pays the fourth highest premium in the country, behind Louisiana, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey -- and residents of the five boroughs account for a larger share than their upstate counterparts.
What's driving up the state's insurance rates? Fraudulent no-fault claims, according to advocates pushing for legislative reform that would include criminal penalties on a law enacted in 1974 to cut down on excess litigation.
"No-fault has been an issue in New York for a number of years," said Kristina Baldwin, assistant vice president of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
"Early around 2000 ... regulatory changes helped rein in the problem, but criminals are innovative. They came up with new ways to go after the $50,000 pot of no-fault benefits, and once again, it is creeping back up and reaching epidemic proportions."
New York -- one of 12 no-fault states -- requires insurance companies to pay drivers, passengers and pedestrians injured in car accidents up to $50,000 for economic losses related to employment or health care, without the requirement that victims prove fault on the part of the other driver.
No-fault fraud can take a number of shapes, including organized crime rings and medical mills staging accidents and filing claims for fake injuries, or sending "runners" to scope out real accident scenes and emergency rooms so they can steer victims to seek treatment from certain doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and lawyers.
"While there is fraud in other areas of the state, the no-fault fraud epidemic is concentrated in New York City," said Ms. Baldwin, also the chairwoman of the Fraud Costs New York Coalition, a base of elected officials, civic and business leaders and trade groups asking the governor to put reform on his 2012 agenda.