As attorneys in the field of personal injury, we sometimes see those who are involved in accidents who attempt to take advantage of the system by submitting false or inflated claims. They see this as a windfall to garnish some extra cash.

In the property damage area, we see inflated automobile damage estimates or estimates which include damage done prior to the accident. There are also false claims for personal property which was allegedly in the vehicle at the time of the accident. In the personal injury area, we see bills for treatment of injuries sustained prior to the accident or which have nothing to do with the accident. There are also those who exaggerate injuries and get extensive, unnecessary treatment.

If you are involved in an accident, the last thing you should do is to inflate your claim. Most insurance policies have clauses which allow the company to deny a claim in total if the insured files an inflated claim on any part of his/her property damage or personal injury claim. But more importantly, insurance fraud is illegal.

Insurance fraud raises the cost of insurance for everyone and has a profound effect on legitimate claims. Those who truly need compensation for legitimate injuries and losses are forced to accept a less than adequate settlement because the insurance companies must make an allowance for false claims.

Everyone who pays insurance shares in the cost of insurance fraud because of the increased rates we must all pay. People who commit insurance fraud literally steal money from the rest of us. We encourage anyone with information on insurance fraud to report such fraud to local authorities or the National Insurance Bureau Hotline at 1-800-835-6422.