Studies done by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has found that auto insurance scams have increased by 46% from 2007-2009. Car insurance rates have gone up 4.3% in the first quarter of 2010, accounting for a total increase of 24% in the last three years.

"Criminals have gone from stealing cars to the medical side of the insurance business because there's quicker money and less chance of getting caught," said Roger Morris, a spokesman for the NICB, adding that, "Fraud does have an impact on insurance rates." "A staged accident insurance claim resulting in a payout to all the victims, including medical and legal expenses, can average between $80,000-$100,000. It's a very lucrative business and sophisticated rings are perpetrating these scams.

In states with no-fault laws, they have a pretty good chance of getting away with it." The top five states that generated the most staged accident were:

• Florida
• New York
• California
• Texas
• Illinois

Staged accidents are dangerous criminal events that target innocent drivers aimed at defrauding insurance companies. Many of these staged accidents go undetected. Common maneuvers include luring motorists into crashes, crashing the scammers' own cars against each other, and fabricating fictitious "paper" accidents. They also often involve phony passengers who file additional claims and unethical medical providers who prescribe expensive treatments for non-existent injuries.

NICB has created a series of videos demonstrating some of the most common types of staged accidents. They can be viewed here: www.nicb.org/multimedia/staged-videos/staged-accident-videos.

To avoid becoming a victim behind the wheel, be sure to maintain enough distance between your vehicle and other vehicles on the road. If you are in an accident, call the police and get a report accompanied by the officer's name and a description of the damages. With an exact description, it's harder for criminals to magnify the damage later. Use your cell phone camera or a disposable one to document the scene after an accident, and avoid "runners" and "cappers" who materialize suddenly and try to direct you to doctors and attorneys.