New Hampshire Insurance Fraud Lawyer
Being accused of insurance fraud can be a scary experience. If you or someone close to you is dealing with these allegations, there is no substitute for advice from seasoned New Hampshire insurance fraud lawyers who have successfully defended clients against these types of charges before. Seek the services of an experienced fraud attorney who can work tirelessly in pursuit of a solid outcome for you.
What Is Insurance Fraud?
Insurance fraud is an offense that involves defrauding an insurance company either by making a fraudulent claim or by destroying one’s own property to collect insurance money. Lying about an injury or loss to collect money from an insurance company is the most common kind of insurance fraud.
Fraudulent claims have been filed for all kinds of insurance, but the types of coverage that give rise to the most accusations are:
- Auto insurance
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
For example, faking an injury to illegally collect money from a health insurer is a common allegation. Fraudulently misrepresenting assets or losses in a homeowner’s insurance claim is another perennial controversy.
False Insurance Claims
If a person makes a claim for physical therapy treatments for a bad back and the insurance company first pays for the therapy, but then claims the person never had the treatments, that individual should talk to a New Hampshire insurance fraud attorney.
Just about any individual or business with insurance may face allegations of fraud after filing a claim if it is suspected or discovered that the claim may have been filed when no actual losses occurred, when the value of the claim is higher than the property lost, or when the insured caused the damages themselves.
A person who is accused of insurance fraud may be looking at both criminal and civil liability. Fraud is a crime for which a person can be prosecuted by the state. At the same time, the insurance company may file a civil suit to recover its money. It is important to get advice from lawyers who understand all aspects of the situation.
Potential Defenses Against Fraud Charges
The good news is that every American enjoys certain rights in court. Every American is presumed innocent, and the government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The law typically lays out specific elements for each crime, and the burden is on the government to prove each element. The prosecutors must show either the intent to commit a crime or else criminal negligence – which goes beyond ordinary carelessness and toward the level of reckless disregard for whether the law was being broken.
Experienced defense attorneys know all the different elements that the government must prove, and can spot the weaknesses in the prosecutors’ case.
Talking to an Attorney
A New Hampshire insurance fraud lawyer with a strong background in insurance fraud cases will be able to protect your reputation against the charges you face, and set the record straight before the court. No matter the circumstances, it is important to discuss all the options with an attorney as soon as possible. The consequences of losing a criminal case can be even worse than in civil litigation. Your freedom itself could be on the line. Additionally, a criminal conviction can limit what kinds of jobs and opportunities you have access to. Contact an attorney today, and know that you are in capable hands.