Rich Schaffer, Town Supervisor for the Town of Babylon, said rising car insurance premiums caused by staged accidents and fraud are adding financial strain to Long Island families already facing a high cost of living. Schaffer’s statement was provided as part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s official announcement detailing legislative and regulatory proposals to reduce auto insurance costs statewide.
New York drivers continue to face some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the nation, with full coverage averages well above the national median. Long Island communities in Suffolk and Nassau counties experience even steeper rates due to the volume of no-fault claims and fraud activity concentrated in the region. These added costs are passed directly to families who maintain coverage and follow traffic laws while organized rings exploit system weaknesses. The state has documented thousands of suspected incidents annually, contributing to ongoing rate pressure.
“On Long Island, where families are already facing a high cost of living, rising car insurance premiums caused by staged accidents and fraud only add to the financial strain. These scams drive up costs for responsible drivers who play by the rules. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in tackling insurance fraud and fighting to put real money back into the pockets of Long Island residents,” Schaffer said.
The New York State Department of Financial Services reported 43,811 incidents of suspected motor vehicle insurance fraud in 2025, representing an 80 percent rise from 2020 levels. In 2023 alone, the state logged 1,729 staged crashes—ranking second-highest nationally—with such schemes inflating premiums for every policyholder. Suffolk County recorded more than 1,000 suspected cases in recent reporting periods, while similar patterns appear across Long Island. Enforcement measures aim to stabilize rates for households facing these cumulative expenses, according to data from state agencies.
Schaffer has served as Town Supervisor of Babylon for multiple terms and previously held a seat in the Suffolk County Legislature, where he addressed local infrastructure and economic development priorities. A lifelong resident of the area, he has focused on public safety, quality-of-life issues, and cost-of-living concerns affecting working families in town government service in Suffolk County.
