California Man Convicted of Arson, Auto Insurance Fraud in Burned Jeep Scheme
A Kern County jury convicted Daniel Montes of arson and automobile insurance fraud after prosecutors said he stripped and burned a Jeep Gladiator as part of a plan to generate an insurance claim. Jail calls and videos recovered from his phone helped expose the scheme.
September 3
Auto
Fraud
Litigation
California
Supreme Court Ruling Changes Freight Broker Liability Claims
The Supreme Court ruled that FAAAA preemption does not bar a state-law negligent hiring claim against a freight broker. Claims investigations may now put more scrutiny on carrier selection, safety records and broker documentation.
September 3
Auto
Liability
Litigation
Risk Management
Underwriting
Illinois
Tropical Storm Edouard Threatens Texas, Louisiana With Flooding, Storm Surge
Heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts and up to 5 feet of storm surge could generate property and flood losses along the Gulf Coast, with flooding also threatening the Houston area.
September 1
Auto
Catastrophe
Insurance Industry
Property
Risk Management
Louisiana
Texas
Florida Officials Uncover Alleged $206K Auto Insurance Fraud Scheme
Florida investigators say 41 insurance applications were submitted for luxury vehicles the applicant did not own, with an alleged payment-and-refund scheme resulting in more than $44,000 obtained from an insurer.
September 1
Auto
Fraud
Insurance Industry
Florida
Tropical Systems Threaten Florida, Gulf Coast With Heavy Rain and Flooding
Dolly’s remnants could soak South Florida later this week while a Gulf system may develop into Tropical Storm Edouard. Heavy rain and localized flooding could extend from Texas and Louisiana through Tampa and Orlando.
August 31
Auto
Catastrophe
Insurance Industry
Property
Risk Management
Florida
Louisiana
Texas
NYC Staged Crash Scheme Leads to Prison Sentences
Prosecutors said participants deliberately caused highway collisions, claimed injuries and sought insurance payouts. Dashcam footage captured two of the staged crashes.
August 27
Auto
Fraud
Legislation & Regulation
New York
Study: Police Reports Undercount Cellphone Use Before Crashes
IIHS researchers found telematics detected cellphone use before crashes at least seven times as often as police reports, highlighting a potential evidence gap in auto claims involving distracted driving.
August 27
Auto
Liability
Litigation
Technology
Tropical Storm Lala Damages 100-Plus Hawaii Homes, Triggers Flooding
Flooding, landslides, powerful winds and widespread power outages damaged homes and infrastructure across Hawaii, with officials beginning damage assessments as the storm moves away.
August 17
Auto
Liability
Risk Management
Workers' Compensation
Hawaii
2.2 Million Vehicles Face Theft Risk from Dealer-Installed Anti-Theft Device Vulnerability
Researchers found a vulnerability affecting dealer-installed KARR and related vehicle security systems sold primarily through Southern California dealerships. The manufacturer has issued a firmware update, but vehicle owners must install it through the mobile app.
July 27
Auto
Fraud
Risk Management
Subrogation
Technology
Senate Bill Would Make Staged Truck Crash Fraud a Federal Crime
A bipartisan legislative effort would create a federal crime for intentionally staging crashes involving commercial trucks, giving prosecutors a direct tool to pursue organized fraud rings while insurers push for stronger deterrents.
July 27
Auto
Fraud
Legislation & Regulation
Litigation
Massachusetts Jury Awards $56 Million in Amazon Delivery Truck Crash Injury Case
A Massachusetts jury awarded a record $56 million to a Newburyport man who suffered catastrophic injuries after an Amazon delivery driver fell asleep and crossed the center line. Amazon had already admitted liability, leaving damages as the only issue for the jury.
July 27
Auto
Liability
Litigation
Massachusetts
New York Trains 270 Law Enforcement Officials to Combat Auto Insurance Fraud
Nearly 270 investigators from 55 agencies completed specialized training on staged crashes, fraud investigations, and financial crimes as New York prepares to implement new anti-fraud laws aimed at reducing auto insurance costs.
July 24
Auto
Education & Training
Fraud
Legislation & Regulation
New York
Waymo Driverless Cars Have 68% Fewer Crashes Than Human Drivers, IIHS Finds
An IIHS study found that Waymo’s Level 4 vehicles had fewer police-reportable and injury crashes per mile than human drivers. Researchers warned that federal crash and mileage reporting must improve as autonomous vehicle fleets expand.
July 23
Auto
Insurance Industry
Legislation & Regulation
Risk Management
Technology
Arizona
California
Texas
Former Maryland Police Officer Sentenced in Auto Insurance Fraud Scheme Using False Theft Reports
A federal judge ordered restitution after a former Maryland police officer admitted participating in a scheme that used false police reports and staged vehicle thefts to collect insurance payouts. The case also involved multiple law enforcement officers and several major auto insurers.
July 20
Auto
Fraud
Litigation
Maryland
California Driver Sentenced After Dashcam Exposes Road Rage Insurance Fraud
Dashcam footage and an independent 911 witness helped investigators prove a California driver intentionally caused a collision before filing a fraudulent insurance claim. The driver received jail time, probation, and restitution after being convicted on multiple charges.
July 13
Auto
Fraud
Litigation
California
