Posted: 05 Mar 2010 09:55 AM PST

By Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, March 6, 2010

TAMPA — Staged auto accidents are on the rise in Florida, and it's causing car insurance premiums to rise, officials said Friday.

Tampa ranked No. 2 in the nation for questionable auto claims, according to National Insurance Crime Bureau statistics for the first half of 2009. Only Brooklyn ranked higher. And the Tampa Bay area ranked No. 4 in a similar comparison of metropolitan regions.

For years, most staged accidents in Florida occurred in South Florida, but after a focused crackdown there, numbers have risen in Tampa, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. Last year, insurance agencies reported 190 questionable claims in Tampa to the bureau.

That will put the pinch on Tampa-area drivers, said Florida Insurance Council executive vice president Sam Miller. Insurance agencies will adjust their premiums accordingly, he said.

"It will cause insurance rates in the Tampa area to be the highest in the country," he said.

Statewide, Florida led the nation in suspicious claims reported to investigators, with a total of 1,062. Florida is a popular state for fraud because of its no-fault policy, said National Insurance Crime Bureau spokesman Frank Scafidi.

An Allstate spokeswoman estimated that, nationally, 20 percent of premiums go toward helping insurers cover the cost of fraud.

Cracking down on auto insurance and personal injury fraud is a top priority for the insurance industry this legislative session.

They're seeking to give state insurance fraud investigators the authority to pull over suspects, and they want to ensure that personal injury clinics are licensed with the state and owned by doctors.

That's an important piece because sometimes clinics are involved in the scheme, detectives said.

"If a clinic is owned by a doctor, chances are they're a bona fide clinic," Miller said.

In Florida, most staged crashes are carried out by a group of people who get together and plan a crash and then either carry it out or set up a scene to appear as if there had been a crash. Usually, no innocent drivers are involved, said detective Michael Hennessy, who investigates insurance fraud in Tampa for the Florida Department of Financial Services.

After the crash, the drivers often file for medical services.

"But they don't get the medical procedure," Sink said at a news conference Friday. "They pocket the money for themselves, and it could be thousands of dollars."

Local efforts to arrest people suspected of staging auto accidents were apparent this week. On Wednesday, Division of Insurance Fraud detectives arrested Guillermo Rodriguez Lopez in connection with a staged accident in Tampa. They believe he's part of a bigger ring, and Hennessy said he expects several more people will be arrested.

Last year, the Department of Financial Services arrested 334 people statewide for personal injury fraud, which includes staged auto accidents.

Times staff writer John Frank contributed to this report. Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3433.

[Last modified: Mar 05, 2010 09:26 PM]

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Four Questions To Get The Right Auto Insurance - Gather.com

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 07:53 AM PST

* What's your lifestyle? Many factors determine auto insurance rates, not just vehicle year, make and model. Companies also look at information about you. If you've recently moved, gotten married, had a birthday or experienced a similar life milestone, let us know. You may be eligible to save additional money on your car insurance.

* Sweet 16 doesn't have to be sour. Having a new teenage driver usually means the auto insurance bill will go up, but there are ways to save. we at Best Rate Insurance can find them for you.

* How old is your car? You don't always need the same level of physical damage coverage on older cars as on newer ones. If you drive an older car, we can advise you what level of coverage makes the most sense. If you want to keep your physical damage coverage, consider raising your deductible - that could save you money each year, too.

* Save money on the fun stuff. If you have a motorcycle, boat, RV or other "toy," you might save money by having it covered by the same company that insures your car. Talk to us about it.

* You may also want to consider separating your homeowner's policy from your car insurance policy. Bundling your homeowner's policy with your car insurance doesn't always save you money. It may, but let us look at separating the policies - the discount you may have gotten for keeping them together may be outweighed by the lower price another company might have for your car insurance.

To learn more call at 888.476.2406 or visit Best Rate Insurance now and start saving today!!!

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Text Size - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Posted: 05 Mar 2010 08:50 AM PST

With so much water around, it's only natural to go for a boat tour, and here in South Florida you can choose from an old-time paddle wheeler for a lunch or dinner cruise, a glass bottom boat ride over a reef or an airboat adventure into the Everglades.

1. Pilgrim Belle Cruises – 801 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-747-3434. Pilgrim Belle offers two-hour narrated Intracoastal cruises, brunch cruises, 75-minute harbor cruises and 90-minute sunset cruises. Based on the cruise, prices range from $15-27 for adults, $13-16 for seniors, and children (12 and under) $11-17.

2. Loxahatchee Everglades Tours – 15490 Loxahatchee Road, west of U.S. 441 north of Deerfield Beach, south of Boca Raton; 800-683-5873. Direct weather update: 561-482-8026

Airboat tours of the Everglades, with frequent sightings of alligators, wading birds and more. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tours begin at 10 a.m. There are two tours - 55-minute 6-8 miled Evergaldes eco-awarness tour and a 40-minute 4-6 mile Everglades tour. The ec-awarness tour is $44 for adults and children (6-12) are $22. The Everglades tour is $32 for adults, $16 for childen and free for ages 5 and under.

3. Jungle Queen Riverboat -- A1A, Bahia Mar Yacht Center, Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-5596.

Barbecue and shrimp dinner sightseeing cruise with variety show departs nightly at 6 p.m.; Adults $36.95, children (2-12 years old) $20.50. Three-hour narrated sightseeing cruises depart at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; adults $16.50, children $11.75. Cash or traveler's checks only.

4. Carrie B. Harbor Tours – Las Olas Boulevard at SE 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale; 954-768-9920.

Seasonal sightseeing cruises of the New River, Intracoastal Waterway and Port Everglades featuring yachts and homes of the rich and famous. Hours: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Cost: Adults $16.95, children under 12 $9.95.

5. Chesapeake -- One of the few boat tours that offers ocean sailing.

Go aboard Walter Cronkite's former yacht, the Chesapeake, a 46-foot cutter yawl. Pick up at the Doubletree Hotel on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Laudedale; 954-463-1414. Daily 3-1/2-hour sailing cruises by appointment. Tickets: $59.95-$79. Up to 10 people.

6. Water Bus of Fort Lauderdale -- 651 Sea Breeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-467-6677.

Makes regular stops at 11 different points between Oakland Park Boulevard and SE 17th Street along the Intracoastal Waterway, and west along the New River into downtown Fort Lauderdale as far as the River House restaurant, from about 10:30 a.m. to after midnight. Fare: $10 for an all-day pass, with other passes available.

7. Everglades Holiday Park -- End of Griffin Road west, half mile past U.S. 27; 954-434-8111.

One-hour airboat tours include alligator wrestling. Free admission and free parking, but the airboat tour is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Full-service RV campground, boat rentals, gift shop, deli, Everglades bass fishing. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

8. Sawgrass Recreation Park -- On U.S. 27, 2 miles north of I-75; 954-389-0202 or 800-457-0788. Narrated Everglades airboat tours daily. Also features a live alligator and birds of prey exhibit, boat rentals, fishing, food and beverages. The tours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $19.50, children under 12 $10 (plus tax), free for children 4 and under.

9. Biscayne National Park – 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead; 305-230-1100 or 305-230-7275.

Three-hour glass-bottom bout tours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The park is 95 percent underwater and features colorful coral reefs and undeveloped keys in Biscayne Bay, southeast of Miami. Directions: The auto entrance to the park is at Convoy Point, which can be reached by taking Florida's Turnpike south to Exit 6 (Speedway Boulevard), turning left from the exit ramp and continuing south to Southwest 328th Street (North Canal Drive). Turn left and continue to the end of the road. The entrance is approximately 5 miles on the left. Reservations are recommended for the boat tours, and six passenger minimum applies. Fee: $24.45 plus tax for adults, $16.45 for children under 12 years, and $19.45 for seniors. A $2.50 fuel surcharge will also apply.

10. Island Queen Cruises of Miami -- Leaves from Bayside Marketplace at Biscayne and Port Boulevards, Miami. 305.379.5119 ext. 201.

This 1- 1/2 hour cruise along Biscayne Bay takes in the downtown Miami skyline, the Port of Miami, Brickell Key, Fisher Island and the celebrity filled islands of Miami Beach known as "Millionaire's Row." Adults are $22; children (4 -12) are $16 and children under 4 years are free. Cruises are hourly from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. Monday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to Sundays. The firm also offers nightly dance cruises.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.