"We want to end automobile accident fraud and the organized systems that support it," said Associated Industries of Florida General Counsel Tammy Perdue. "Legislative action in 2012 is essential to protect Florida's businesses and insurance consumers from what government officials have called 'a nearly $1 billion fraud tax on Florida consumers.'"

According to the coalition, as a result of accident fraud, Florida insurance consumers pay 56 percent more than consumers in other states for automobile insurance premiums – an average of $736 in Florida versus $471 countrywide. Staged accidents, rampant litigation and unscrupulous medical clinics that provide services to personal injury protection claimants have created what the coalition calls a "perfect storm of skyrocketing costs for honest Florida consumers."

The coalition states that Florida leads the nation in staged automobile accidents and questionable insurance claims. Four of the top 10 U.S. hotspots with the highest rates of questionable auto claims are in Florida: Tampa, Miami, Orlando and Hialeah.

The coalition also states that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has warned that the current trend in fraudulent claims is unsustainable and may lead to an automobile liability insurance availability crisis.

"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," said Florida Sheriffs Association Executive Director Steve Casey. "PIP fraud used to be more of an individual crime and now has become an organized crime."