Slip and fall accidents are a common cause of NJ personal injury. But these accidents can sometime be fraud (3% according the National Floor Safety Institute). Just recently in the news, a Perth Amboy man was indicted for faking an accident at the car dealership where he worked in order to get the company’s insurance to pay for treatment of a pre-existing back injury, and to collect more than $55,000 in temporary disability. He was indicted on charges of health care claims fraud and more. If convicted of the most serious charges, he faces five to 10 years in state prison. This case is unfortunate because it discounts the many thousands of people who are legitimately injured due to falls on slippery floors.
According to the NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute), accidental falls are the leading reason for emergency room visits (over 1 million visits) in the country. And according to the National Safety Council Injury Facts, compensation & medical costs associated with employee slip/fall accidents is approximately $70 billion annually. At the same time, an increase in fraudulent slip-and-fall claims has cast a shadow of skepticism over legitimate claims, so it is very important to back up any legitimate slip and fall claim you might file with all the evidence you can gather to prevent this skepticism.
Contemplating filing a Fraudulent Slip and Fall Insurance Claim? Think again!
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has stated that “slip and fall” claims targeting businesses and their insurance companies are beginning to be scrutinized more carefully for potential fraud. Insurance industry studies indicate 10 percent or more of property/casualty insurance claims are fraudulent. And fraud is the second most costly white-collar crime in America behind tax evasion. Swindlers will pretend to slip or trip and injure themselves to fraudulently collect insurance settlements or other payouts. Often the swindlers threaten an expensive lawsuit to extort fast payouts. Businesses are frequent targets.
Insurance fraud is a crime in New Jersey, but it happens every day. Perhaps you have been accused of the crime and need legal assistance to prove your innocence and receive compensation for your claim, or maybe you made a mistake and are facing prosecution for a decision you made that has resulted in a charge of insurance fraud. Many times, people simply put the wrong information down on their insurance forms and it’s an honest mistake. In any case, you have rights and must protect them with the representation of an experienced attorney. Contact the attorneys at Villani & DeLuca at (732) 965-3350 to discuss and evaluate your case today.
