Are you suspected of workers' comp fraud?

Workers' compensation is meant to aid employees who have been injured while doing their jobs. However, in addition to being helpful to people who are legitimately injured, workers' comp could also be exploited by people seeking to perpetrate fraud.

For example, a young woman in California was recently charged with three felony counts of fraud in regards to what authorities believe was a false workers' comp claim. According to news reports, the woman collected workers' comp after fracturing a toe in the supermarket she worked in. However, a video allegedly surfaced afterwards showing her participating in a beauty contest and walking in high heels with no apparent discomfort.

Workers' comp fraud in California

Under California state law, workers' comp fraud is a felony (it's also part of a larger set of insurance fraud crimes). Penalties include prison time and fines.

People can get charged with fraud for a variety of actions, not just making a false claim. For example, if you help someone commit fraud without directly perpetrating the crime yourself, you'll still be open to charges of fraud.

In addition to pretending you have an injury that actually doesn't exist, you may face fraud charges for sustaining an injury outside of your work but then claiming that it happened in the course of your job. Other fraudulent actions may include trying to collect multiple benefits from different employers for the exact same injury. Employers themselves sometimes perpetrate workers' comp fraud in a way that hurts their employees.

Defending yourself from charges

If you face insurance fraud charges over workers' comp, you need to contact a reputable criminal lawyer. It's possible that you were falsely accused of fraud and that the evidence supposedly revealing your dishonesty is actually ambiguous. Other times you may have made an honest mistake that shouldn't leave you open to charges of willfully defrauding anyone. Your lawyer will help you strongly present your case and fight for fair treatment in the criminal justice system.