A new coalition of consumer, business and law enforcement groups is taking on car insurance fraud in Florida.

Among the 12 groups that compose Gear Up Florida are the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Sheriffs Association. The coalition wants Florida lawmakers to pass legislation that would crack down on car accident fraud.

Critics say loopholes in Florida’s no-fault car insurance law allows criminals to take advantage of a system designed to provide medical care to drivers and passengers who are legitimately injured in car accidents, regardless of who’s at fault. Florida leads the nation in staged car accidents and questionable car insurance claims.

No-fault coverage also is known as personal injury protection (PIP). Florida law requires that a driver carry at least $10,000 in PIP coverage.

Primarily because of PIP fraud, officials say, Floridians pay 56 percent more than motorists in other states for car insurance – an average of $736 in Florida compared with $471 nationwide.

“Undercover investigations have revealed that many participants in staged accidents were part of a larger group and that the staged crash was just the first step in the overall scheme,” Steve Casey, executive director of the Florida Sheriffs Association, says in a news release. “PIP fraud used to be more of an individual crime and now has become an organized crime.”

The coalition recommends Florida lawmakers look at:

• Allowing more time (30 to 60 days) for investigation of suspicious insurance claims.

• Limiting attorneys’ fees to reduce the incentive for unnecessary or drawn-out litigation.

• Placing more scrutiny on medical clinics that treat people who have filed PIP claims.

• Establishing guidelines to prevent excessive, unnecessary medical treatment for PIP patients.

Florida’s 2012 legislative session starts Jan. 10.

-First, always be sure to have these documents in your glove compartment at all times: your car insurance information; paper and a pencil; a disposable or cheap digital camera. It is a good idea to keep several photocopies of your car insurance information, too.

-After an accident, exchange names, addresses, driver’s license, and car insurance information with the driver of the car.

-Take photos of the scene. If the other driver doesn’t have a camera, and your camera is digital, you may want to be polite and ask if he or she would like you to email copies of the photos. Be sure to get close-up photos of any damage that may have been caused by the accident. If the cars are still in the same places as they were immediately after impact, be sure to take distance photos of all cars involved in order to clearly show the positions of all vehicles. If the cars have been moved, photograph the area where impact happened, being sure to include any traffic signals or signs, skid marks on the road, etc.

-Do not leave the scene of the accident until police arrive! You want them to know your version of what happened. If you leave the scene and the other drive talks to the police, the police report could include only his or her perspective on events. Be sure to get the name of the police officer, too, and write it down. Sometimes officers don’t file reports on “minor” accidents (accidents in which no one was hurt, no matter how damaged the vehicles may be). If a report isn’t filed on your accident and you need the officer to testify, knowing his or her name will make things a lot easier.

-Report the accident to your car insurance company immediately; even if both you and the other driver seem to agree that you weren’t at fault. You want to make sure that your insurance company has your version of events on record if the other driver’s insurance company comes knocking—even, or especially, if you aren’t at fault. Don’t be concerned about increased car insurance rates, because state laws usually protect no-fault drivers from increased rates.