![\"Governor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/crop-39186703.jpg\")
Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s plan to lower auto-insurance rates by cracking down on fraud is one of the hurdles keeping Albany from passing a budget, which is now nearly a month late. James Keivom<\/p>\n
Under the state\u2019s obscene status quo, motorists are shelling out an average of $4,000 a year on premiums, $1,500 (38%) more than the national average.<\/p>\n
In Brooklyn, they pay $6,677 a year for full coverage.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tMore From\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPost Editorial Board<\/p>\n
That\u2019s outrageous, but there\u2019s an obvious explanation: Last year, insurers reported a jaw-dropping 43,811 \u2014 43,811! \u2014 suspected fraud claims.<\/p>\n
Paying off those claims, and often sky-high awards, costs a bundle, and insurers simply pass the costs to motorists via premiums.<\/p>\n
Hochul\u2019s plan cracks down on the fraud by helping prosecutors target criminal rings, shady lawyers, and fake \u201cvictims\u201d who stage accidents.<\/p>\n
It also limits payouts for criminals involved in accidents while breaking the law (such as driving drunk); prevents drivers who are primarily at fault from collecting damages; and more narrowly defines what qualifies as a \u201cserious injury\u201d to curb huge awards for minor injuries.<\/p>\n
These steps can go a long way toward holding down rates.<\/p>\n
Of course, there is one group that loves the current system<\/a>: trial lawyers (and the criminals they represent).<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to see why: The lawyers get a third of awards in auto accident cases and make a mint from the business. Good for them \u2014 bad for motorists.<\/p>\n