A new Senate bill takes aim at staged car accidents

Sen. Ashley Moody introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act on July 22, and the major insurance trade groups have lined up behind it. Insurance Journal reports it follows a similar House effort from about a year ago. A staged accident is a crash set up on purpose so a ring can file injury and repair claims against a driver who did nothing wrong.

Florida drivers already pay some of the highest auto premiums in the country, and fraud is part of why. Every faked claim gets paid out of the same pool your premium feeds. Two habits protect you if you ever get set up: keep a dashcam running, and call police to the scene even for a minor bump so there is an official report. Do not settle in cash at the roadside, and do not let a stranger at the scene steer you toward a particular clinic or body shop.

An independent agent can review your auto limits, confirm you carry uninsured motorist coverage, and re-shop the policy across carriers.