DIVERSE VOICES ACROSS NEW YORK CALL ON LEGISLATURE TO PASS GOV. HOCHUL’S PLAN TO LOWER CAR INSURANCE RATES
NEW YORK — In recent days, a broad coalition of community advocates, law enforcement veterans, and business leaders across New York urged the State Legislature to pass Governor Kathy Hochul’s comprehensive plan to lower auto insurance premiums. The call to action comes as new reports show New Yorkers are paying an average of over $4,000 annually for coverage – nearly double the national average – with some residents facing staggering bills of nearly $7,000.
One driver of these skyrocketing costs is a surge in organized insurance fraud, specifically staged car crashes. New York now ranks second in the nation for these “crash-for-cash” schemes, where criminal rings use tactics to force unsuspecting drivers into accidents. These orchestrated collisions allow fraudsters to exploit the state’s no-fault system, siphoning millions through inflated medical bills and sham lawsuits – a "fraud tax" that adds an estimated $300 to every New Yorker's premium.
Below is a sampling of respected voices calling for action from every corner of the state:
Western New York
Buffalo News: Rev. James Lewis emphasizes the human cost, centering insurance unaffordability as an equity that disproportionately burdens low-income families and communities of color.
Capital Region
Albany Times Union: Transportation expert Matt Daus highlights how staged crashes and outdated liability rules drive widespread economic strain, urging for reforms that strengthen anti-fraud enforcement.
Hudson Valley
Mid-Hudson News: Retired officer Ryan Law details the "staged crash crisis," noting that sophisticated rings manufacture accidents to trigger massive payouts. He calls for the “whole-of-government” approach proposed by Governor Hochul to dismantle these networks.
Central New York
Syracuse Post-Standard: The Chamber of Progress argues that these "sky-high" rates impede economic competitiveness and burden small businesses as much as individual drivers.
Long Island / NYC
Newsday: Lauren Zelt of the PACT coalition outlines how systemic fraud and abuse contribute to runaway premiums, calling for restored fairness in the insurance market.