Christina Bramlet of Propertycasualty360.com reports the rising number of suspicious claims coming from 10 states according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, including Massachusetts, New York, California, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, and of course, New Jersey, during the years ranging from 2009 to 2011.
To focus close to home, New Jersey has seen a 26% increase in the number of suspicious claims submitted up to 2011, which is sure to surge even higher with the effects of Hurricane Sandy pushing well into the bulk of 2013.
Suspicious Claims submitted to the National Insurance Crime Bureau by year in New Jersey:
2009: 1,509
2010: 1,412
2011: 1,903 (accounting for the 26% increase since 2009)
New Jersey cities producing the most suspicious claims (as of 2011):
Newark: 131
Paterson: 84
Elizabeth: 81
Jersey City: 73
Irvington: 48
Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), or geographic areas with an urban center including a radius of bordering towns that are associated to it by commuting, producing the most suspicious claims in and around New Jersey:
Atlantic City Area
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Trenton-Ewing
New York-North Jersey-Long Island
Most Prevalent Losses in New Jersey:
Collision
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Bodily Injury
Other Automobile
Theft
Property damage
We expect a significant increase in numbers for 2012, and well into 2013, not only for New Jersey, but for the bulk of the Tri-State area.