Florida last passed a significant comprehensive auto personal injury fraud bill in the mid 70s. According to a personal injury lawyer Florida, the latest bill was passed in early 2001.
Under Florida’s no-fault law, all drivers are required to carry $10,000 and PIP – personal injury protection coverage – with a maximum deductible of $2,000. PIP coverage is designed to protect a driver in the event of an accident with an uninsured motorist and help prevent the state from having to pay for drivers with no other forms of insurance.
Auto PIP fraud has become a growing concern in the state of Florida as well-organized ‘gangs’ have formed to maximize potential collections from carriers.
Recently, a Florida special grand jury found a number of legal and medical professionals which have developed a variety of methods to improperly recover $10,000 in coverage. These techniques ranged from staging accidents to the use of professional solicitors or so-called “runners” to recruit often unwitting victims. Florida is by far not the only state that these dishonest practices take place in; nearly all states are reporting fraudulent insurance activity, mainly due to the economy.
Florida personal injury attorneys stated that lawmakers passed two bills designed to stop abuse associated with this kind of fraudulent activity. The principal bill requires that claimants server carriers with pre-suit notices except when a claim has been formally denied or reduced.
This bill also cracks down on crooked medical activity by calling for medical clinics not owned by physicians to register with the state; plus the bill is equipped with a fee schedule for certain medical procedures such as MRIs or CAT scans.
The second bill restricts the available personal information in police officer accident reports to victims, law enforcement and then media for 60 days only.
Another “hot button” topic for state lawmakers and Florida personal injury lawyers is property-casualty issues in which Florida has not engaged in serious discussions regarding workers comp reform since the massive rewrites of a law passed in 1993.
Florida lawmakers did recently pass a privacy rule that requires the state insurance department follow the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Privacy Act.
