Overview
- The governor folded the initiative into her budget legislation, proposing to narrow New York’s definition of “serious injury,” excluding non‑permanent impairments that keep victims from normal activities for up to 90 days.
- The plan would bar crash victims from recovering damages if a jury finds them more culpable than the defendant and would restrict payouts to motorists driving unlicensed, drunk, or during a felony.
- Hochul seeks to ramp up investigations of suspected fraud by reviving the Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board and leveraging the DMV, State Police, and Department of Financial Services.
- State data cited by the governor show 1,729 staged crashes and 38,270 suspected fraud incidents in 2023, with officials estimating fraud can add roughly $300 a year to premiums.
- Trial lawyers and safety advocates warn the tort changes would shortchange crash victims and reduce access to legal representation, while an Uber-backed coalition, Citizens for Affordable Rates, has lobbied for the reforms.