TALLAHASSEE—Florida CFO Jeff Atwater announced today the arrests of five individuals involved in a staged accident scheme in Miami. Mario J. Chavez, 53, Robin Nelson Campanioni, Jr., 23, Jorge J. Mota, 27, Naima Basnueva Lastre, 24, all of Miami, and Eduardo Figueredo, 44, of Miami Springs were charged with insurance fraud, grand theft and staging an auto accident.
“Fake accidents like these are happening everyday in Florida’s biggest cities and are costing Floridians millions of dollars a year in increased auto insurance rates,” said CFO Atwater. “My office is cracking down on this costly crime. The perpetrators will be caught; they will go to jail, and we will work to get Floridians the relief they deserve on their auto insurance premiums.”
An investigation conducted by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud revealed that the five suspects met at a house in Miami to plot the staged auto accident and how the scheme would go down. After faking the accident, the participants sought treatment for their phony injuries at Doral Center Rehab and Justin Medical Services, both located at 3900 NW 79th Avenue, in Miami.
As a result of this staged accident, nearly $83,000 in fraudulent insurance claims were submitted by the clinics to Geico, Kingsway Amigo, Progressive and Unitrin Direct insurance companies.
Additional arrests are expected. If convicted, each suspect faces up to 35 years in prison.
Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott, appointed by CFO Atwater, has convened a working group of interested parties to gather and develop ideas to address the fraud and other potential alternatives to Florida’s current no-fault system. The working group’s report will be completed and delivered to state policymakers in the coming weeks.
Anyone with information regarding suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0445. Individuals who provide tips can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $250,000 to approximately 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official and officer of the Florida Cabinet, oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Atwater’s priorities include fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government, reducing government spending and regulatory burdens that chase away businesses, and providing transparency and accountability in spending.
Top Five Driving Mistakes
For many drivers, getting behind the wheel is second nature, so it’s easy to make errors without realizing it. However, these errors can lead to serious accidents. Keep yourself and others safe on the road by avoiding these mistakes:
- Tailgating
Leave a three-second cushion between you and the vehicle in front of you. Leave even more time when road conditions are bad or when you’re travelling at higher speeds.
- Stopping Instead of Yielding
Accidents can happen when drivers stop at a yield sign. “Yield” simply means to slow down and let the traffic on the road you are entering have the right of way. Most times, this is possible without coming to a stop.
- Trusting Mirrors Instead of Your Eyes
Relying on mirrors can cause blind spots. Whether backing up or switching lanes, always look over your shoulder. And remember, objects in your mirror are closer than they appear.
- Failing to Yield on Green
Even though a green light means “GO,” always remember to look at the street you are entering—especially when turning left—to make sure no pedestrians or vehicles are in your path.
- Multi-Tasking
Drivers are distracted by just about anything these days—including the radio, eating and using the phone. Focus on driving and turn off all gadgets when you turn the key.
Be a safe driver. Take the National Drivers Test!
Share and compare your scores with your family and friends and figure out who the smartest and safest drivers are. Visit www.gmacinsurance.com to see how well you know the rules of the road. And, don’t forget to check out the National Drivers Test Facebook App where you can “challenge a friend” to take the test!
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Greetings,
While no one wants to get a speeding ticket, the real risk of speeding is the threat it poses to the safety of everyone on the roads. Did you know that nearly one-third of all fatal car crashes involve drivers who exceeded posted speed limits? Below you’ll find four facts about speeding that will make your policyholders think twice the next time they hit the accelerator.
Share the information below with your policyholders to broaden your reach in your market. Copy and paste it and use it in your email marketing, post it on your website or use the information in your social networking efforts. |
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Four Facts About Speeding
Exceeding posted speed limits accounts for nearly one-third of all fatal car crashes. Next time you are rushing to get somewhere and find yourself speeding, consider the following facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- Don’t Let Low Traffic Fool You: Speeding-related fatalities are twice as likely to happen in rural areas as they are on urban streets. In fact, only 12 percent of speeding-related fatalities occur on Interstate highways.
- Ten Miles Per Hour Makes a Difference: The probability of death or a debilitating injury doubles for every additional 10 mph when a vehicle is traveling 50 mph or faster.
- Wear Your Seatbelt: One in three drivers killed in car accidents are not wearing safety restraints.
- Talk to Your Teen: The likelihood of fatality in a speeding-related crash is highest for divers in their teen years. Young men are particularly at risk. They have twice as many fatalities from speeding when compared to women.
If you still aren’t convinced about the risks of speeding, click here to see more speeding facts.
Be a safe driver. Take the National Drivers Test!
Share and compare your scores with your family and friends and figure out who the smartest and safest drivers are. Visit www.gmacinsurance.com to see how well you know the rules of the road. And, don’t forget to check out the National Drivers Test Facebook App where you can “challenge a friend” to take the test! |
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To ensure you’re driving a safe vehicle, take a few minutes to conduct this monthly Four-Point Safety Check. Your car and your safety may be riding on it!
- Tire Pressure: Make sure all tires are inflated to the pressure recommended in your owner’s manual (not the maximum pressure noted on the tire’s sidewall). The correct pressure will ensure your tires wear evenly which will reduce the chance of blowouts.
- Check Front End Alignment: Any pothole or bump can knock your car out of alignment. While driving slowly in an empty parking lot, see if the vehicle is pulling to one side. If so, have a qualified mechanic realign your front end.
- Take a Brake: When in park, check your brake pressure. There should be resistance to the pedal when depressed. And, any grinding, squeaking or shuddering you hear or feel when you hit the brakes means it’s time to have them serviced.
- Keep Your Lights On: Blown out brake lights and turn signals can be a big hazard on the road. Have a friend help you make sure all lights are working properly.
Remind yourself to be a safe driver, take the test!
Raise awareness about safe driving and suggest your policyholders take the National Drivers Test! They will be able to share and compare their scores with family and friends and determine if they are smart and safe drivers. The National Drivers Test initiates great conversation and will help you grow your business in your market..
Visit www.gmacinsurance.com and click on the National Drivers Test button to take the test and see how you size up when it comes to knowing the rules of the road. If you’re on Facebook, don’t forget to check out the National Drivers Test Facebook App where you and your policyholders can “challenge a friend” to take the test! |
In case your home or personal property was broken within the recent storms, probably you will be filing claims with your home, tenants or car insurance.
For most of us, creating a claim and becoming with the insurance settlement process is one thing they’ve never needed to cope with. It may be confusing and intimidating.
Before you begin claims and start the procedure, it is important you know how to pull off it. Being up to date and eager could make the main difference from a frustrating and confusing process along with a prompt and fair claims settlement.
Read Your Insurance Plan First
The very first factor to complete would be to obtain and browse an entire copy of the insurance plan, including all terms, endorsements and riders. The terms page includes each group of coverage (for example dwelling, contents, lack of use, etc) and also the specific dollar limits for every category. Your policy will even incorporate a description of risks and deficits covered underneath the policy. The purpose here is your insurance provider is experienced in your policy you have to be one too.
Many people filing insurance claims do not know their privileges presented to them under their guidelines. People are also worried about having faith in their insurance provider since the interests from the insurance provider and also the insured won’t be the same. While both you and your insurance provider both desire a quick claims process, the insurance provider really wants to spend the money for least amount and you need to collect the biggest benefits permitted underneath the policy.
Document Everything
Whenever you file claims, the very first factor to complete would be to report losing towards the claims department of the insurance provider. They’ll produce a claim number for the situation and assign the situation for an insurer. Make certain also to request the insurer for that title and phone information of the supervisor.
Out of this initial telephone call and through the entire process, you need to document all contact you’ve together with your insurance provider as well as their reps. Write lower the starting time and date of each and every call, that which was stated, by whom and do you know the next steps. Your insurance provider might want to handle your claim with little if any documentation, but it’s good for you to document everything. Because of this, it’s makes sense to request emails and also to send an overview email message of each and every telephone call together with your insurance provider to your insurer and claim supervisor.
Also document what they are called, game titles, telephone numbers and emails of all of the people active in the process who’re responsible for your claim. This can include, in the bottom up: the insurer, claims supervisor, unit manager, regional claims manager and office at home claims. This is useful to understand to ensure that when there’s an issue and you have to escalate it to some manager, you will be aware who to make contact with. Also, it’s good to understand that claims managers and unit managers would prefer to resolve an issue at their level than need to show their greater-ups why your complaint needed to be increased for resolution.
Check in a couple of days when I’ll talk about using your documentation to challenge the very first settlement offer out of your insurance provider.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages three to 14. Reduce the risk and implement these tips for safe driving when there are children in your vehicle:
1. Young Children
- When children have outgrown a convertible safety seat, they should use a booster seat until they are 10 years old.
- Even when young children are tall enough to use an adult seat belt, they should ride in the backseat until they are 13 years old.
2. Toddlers
- Keep toddlers in a rear-facing, convertible safety seat for as long as possible.
- When the child outgrows the safety seat, toddlers should sit in a forward-facing safety seat complete with a full harness.
3. Infants
- Always drive with infants in a rear-facing safety seat.
- Once a child exceeds the manufacturer’s height and weight limit of the seat, infants should continue to ride facing the rear in a convertible safety seat.
- Remember, car seats are only effective in keeping children safe if they are installed correctly. Before driving with any child passengers, double-check that the safety seat is mounted correctly, locked in place and that all buckles and straps are intact.
Remind yourself to be a safe driver, take the test!
Raise awareness about safe driving and suggest taking the National Drivers test to your policyholders! Your customers will be able to share and compare their scores with family and friends, and see if they are smart and safe drivers. The National Drivers Test initiates great conversation and will help you grow your business in your market.
Visit www.gmacinsurance.com and click on the National Drivers Test button to take the test and see how you size up when it comes to knowing the rules of the road. If you’re on Facebook, don’t forget to check out the National Drivers Test Facebook App where you and your policyholders can “challenge a friend” to take the test!
Citizens Property Insurance suggested a state-wide average rate hike of 25 % for residential guidelines and 12 % for guidelines that only cover windstorm.
The 25 % increase is basically driven by massive rate hikes for sinkhole coverage, which may not affect tenants and condo unit proprietors.
The Office of Insurance Regulation, that has the ultimate say on the rise, introduced Thursday it has brought condition-backed Citizens’ rate demands. Government bodies indicated they’ll contain the insurance provider to some requirement it offset a few of the suggested increase with savings expected from the sweeping new property insurance law which should lower sinkhole claims costs.
“They didn’t contemplate…the anticipated financial savings produced by passage from the new legislation,” Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty told Cabinet people now. When the rate increase continues to be significant, McCarty stated the insurance provider could implement it on the couple of years as some private companies did.
Condition law caps the annual premium increase for People customers at 10 %, but that excludes coverage changes, taxes and sinkhole coverage. People has suggested a state-wide rate hike of 429 percent for that sinkhole part of its rates.
Sinkhole coverage only comprises a a part of the premium for any homeowner’s multi-peril policy, thumping in the overall average rate hike to 27 percent.
The majority of Florida won’t be hit as hard because the Polk area, that could see average regional rate hikes as high as 195 percent, including the price of sinkhole coverage, for homeowners’ multiperil guidelines, based on Citizens’ request. The typical suggested increases for areas of Florida and Orlando area are as much as 13 percent and 15 %, correspondingly.
The suggested rate hike for Citizens’ windstorm-only guidelines, which don’t cover sinkholes, is 12 % on the state-wide average basis. Tenants and condo unit owners’ guidelines also don’t include sinkhole coverage and also the suggested increase is 4 % and 9 %, correspondingly.
The rise for individual customers can differ from state-wide or regional earnings.
The insurance coverage regulation office intends to hold hearing about the rate hike but has not scheduled to start dating ?. Customers who wish to weigh in about the rate hike can email comments to with “People” within the subject line.
It’s time to go back to college! Share these valuable driving safety tips with your college students as they load up their cars and head back to college.
1. Avoid Cramming, Pack Right. Even though your son or daughter will try to fit every last piece of dorm room equipment into the car, make sure whoever is driving is able to see out of the rearview mirror despite a fully packed car. Nothing should be packed above seat level in order to avoid projectile movement of objects if the need to stop short arises. Pack right by making two trips or shipping what will not fit safely in the car.
2. Take a Break. Whether you or child is driving, make sure to plan to take stops and break up your drive if it is a long one.
3. Conduct a Car Check. Check headlights, oil, turn signals, and tires before letting your son or daughter embark on their journey to college. You never know when these vehicle essentials may break down!
4. Keep Your Eyes Peeled For Pedestrians. All college campuses experience an increase in the number of pedestrians walking around. Remind your son or daughter to yield to pedestrians and to never pass a car that is stopped at a cross walk.
5. Always Lock up! College students often forget that urban areas of college campuses are not as safe as their parents’ driveway. Remind your son or daughter to never leave valuables in the car and always lock the car.
Practice Safe Driving, Take the Test!
Raise awareness about safe driving and let your policyholders test their driving knowledge by reminding them to take the test! Your customers will be able to share and compare their scores with family and friends, and see just how their distracted driving habits measure up. Whether it’s on your Facebook page, blog, Twitter account, or company website, the National Drivers Test initiates great conversation and will grow your business within your community.
Visit www.gmacinsurance.com and click on the National Drivers Test button. If you’re on Facebook, checkout the National Drivers Test Facebook App where you and your policyholders can “challenge a friend” to take the test!
Because the recession in america has caused financial hardships to an incredible number of its citizens, it’s significant to retain existing clients.
Customer retention is completely essential for individuals insurance companies which have long-term profit goals states the report distributed by JD energy and affiliates.
The report demonstrated that 30% from the homes who gained under $50,000 elected for brand new insurance service providers previously year and almost 45% from the clients transformed their service providers. And 26% from the homes, individuals that gained a lot more than $100,000 elected to purchase new service providers departing just 31% of these really switching!
As 90% from the clients remained back using their original service providers previously year, individuals families which are more affected because of recession really are a large challenge to retain for that insurance companies. A few of the insurance companies have in some way handled to improve the amount of their clients within this difficult economic atmosphere this comes at the expense of other insurance companies from the car insurance market in america.
Among individuals clients who gather many insurance items, the rates for retention is high shows the report.
The typical rates for retention is 95%, individuals who gather auto and home guidelines using the original company also it rates 92% for individuals who bring rental and auto guidelines together. And also the clients who use only one policy at any given time get average rates of 83% and 85% for individuals who don’t mix their auto and home insurance policies together.
Enhancing their retention by a minimum of a percent for the biggest us insurance companies can generate huge amount of money over the timeframe, therefore the slight variations within the rates of retention may have a large impact after some time. Finding guidelines and satisfying clients brings about huge incentives for that service providers.
The report implies that many variances are located between your various categories of demographic groups.
Different life styles and requires for insurance could be indicated with the variations proven in demographic groups. To retain clients you should tailor the items provided in line with the different census of individuals rather than keeping just on size for those states bowler, the senior officer of JD energy. A lot more than 30 insurance service providers are examined however the surveys from the personal insurance retention are convinced that researches on 275,000 clients holding car insurance. Even all condition, maqui berry farmers, American families, progressive, condition farm etc. are now being examined.
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Parents of teenagers polled, during a recent GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, advised of the following restrictions, they are putting on their teenage drivers to help them be safer drivers?
- Sixty-four percent of parents are imposing the “no mobile devices while driving” rule.
- About 50 percent of parents implement a driving curfew.
- About 35 percent of parents allow their teenagers to drive only locally and restrict them from driving on any highways.
- Thirty-two percent of parents don’t allow their teenagers to drive with friends in the car.
- Twenty-two percent of parents allow their teenagers to drive only if a parent is with them.
- Only nine percent of parents don’t impose any driving restrictions on their teenage drivers.
Click Here to see the “Top Five Distracted Driving Habits” for personal auto drivers—discovered by the 7th Annual National Drivers Test conducted by GMAC Insurance!
Never Stray Away From Safe Driving. Take the Test!
Raise awareness about safe-driving and let your policyholders test their driving knowledge by reminding them to take the test! Visit www.gmacinsurance.com and click on the National Drivers Test button.
Also, don’t forget to check out the National Drivers Test Facebook App where you and your policyholders can “challenge a friend” to take the test! |
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