Andover Insurance Fraud Attorneys
Challenge Insurance Fraud Charges with Experienced Defense Help in Warren County and Sussex County NJ
According to New Jersey criminal law, insurance fraud is the act of misleading an insurance company in order to receive financial gain or policy renewal. Misleading an insurance company can take the form of omitting information from a claim or providing false information in the claim. The consequences of defrauding an insurance company in New Jersey are grave. Because it affects innocent people whose policies are more expensive year by year due to the cost expended by insurance agencies of pursuing fraudulent claims, New Jersey law prosecutes insurance fraud harshly. In fact, the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor was created for the sole purpose of investigating these crimes.
Being investigated or charged with insurance fraud in New Jersey can be overwhelming. If you have been charged with insurance fraud, you need the skilled support of an experienced defense attorney. Our experienced criminal attorneys defend against a wide range of insurance fraud cases in Sparta, Phillipsburg, Mansfield, Hackettstown, North Warren, and throughout Sussex County and Warren County, New Jersey. Call us at 973-755-1695 for immediate assistance or contact our firm online today for a free consultation regarding your case, and read on to learn about the different forms of insurance fraud in New Jersey and how to defend against this criminal charge.
Exploring the Many Ways NJ Insurance Fraud Occurs
There are as many different types of insurance fraud as there are types of insurance. Auto, home, life, workers compensation, and all other forms of insurance that an individual can purchase to protect their assets and well-being are unfortunately vulnerable to insurance fraud. Some examples of fraudulent activity include falsely inflating damages in property and automobile insurance claims, falsifying information about the nature of an automobile accident in order to recoup damages, illegally collecting unemployment benefits when employment is possible, staging a disability in order to collect benefits, damaging or committing arson on a property or automobile in order to collect insurance money, and other fraudulent activities.
Establishing Criminal Intent in NJ Insurance Fraud Cases
In order to prove criminal insurance fraud, a prosecutor must provide evidence that an individual misled an insurance company by making a false statement or purposefully omitting information from a claim in order to reap the financial or coverage benefits. Because insurance fraud is a criminal charge, the prosecutor bears the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt that this activity took place and was done with the express intent of defrauding the insurance company.
Ramifications of Insurance Fraud Convictions in NJ
Insurance fraud is normally a third-degree criminal offense, which is to say it is a felony. Penalties for a third-degree criminal conviction in New Jersey are up to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines. In some cases, insurance fraud is elevated to a second-degree crime. This occurs when a person commits five or more acts of fraud with at least $1000 in financial gain. Penalties for a second-degree insurance fraud conviction include up to 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines.
How Insurance Fraud Impacts Your Future
Consequences for insurance fraud go beyond significant potential prison time and exorbitant fines. Because it is a crime, insurance fraud remains on your criminal record (although, in some cases, it can be eventually expunged). This means that future background checks for employment will show your criminal history of defrauding; this severely impacts your trustworthiness in the eyes of potential employers and may result in you being passed up for future job opportunities.
Building a Solid Case to Fight Insurance Fraud Accusations
In order to prove that you have participated in fraudulent activities, a prosecutor must provide evidence that you actively misled your insurance company in your claim. With the help of a skilled defense attorney, you can demonstrate that any falsehoods in your claim were included in error, or that you took steps to attempt to correct the misinformation. You can also defend yourself against an insurance fraud charge by providing evidence that law enforcement illegally conducted their investigation.
Fight Insurance Fraud Accusations in Sussex County with Our Lawyers
Insurance fraud charges are nothing minor to contend with, and defending against a charge requires skilled maneuvering. An experienced criminal defense attorney on our team will help you build a strong case in your defense and comprehensively contest the case the prosecutor is building against you. Our team of lawyers has successfully represented clients in Lopatcong, Newton, Vernon, Andover, Frankford, Greenwich, Wantage, Stillwater, and throughout New Jersey for years, and we are committed to helping you keep your record and reputation clean and move on with your life. Contact us today at 973-755-1695 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss the accusations against you.