How to Find the Best Insurance Fraud Attorney in Brookings

According to The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, over $80 billion is lost to fraudulent insurance claims. This is bad news for both insurance companies and consumers alike as increased premiums and scrutiny of claims affect your insurance policies. However, increased scrutiny and vigilance meant to discourage insurance fraud sometimes means that your incredibly valid claim is denied. That’s when you need to know how to find the best insurance fraud attorney in Brookings South Dakota.

Insurance Fraud Vs. Bad Faith Insurance

Insurance fraud is defined as someone knowingly lying to obtain a personal benefit to which they are otherwise unentitled, or when a benefit that is due and to which someone is entitled is knowingly denied.

When most people picture someone committing “insurance fraud,” they often picture a shady character working to game the system in their favor. And while this does happen from time to time, much more often someone who has committed “insurance fraud” has no idea what they’ve done wrong and are completely blindsided by the investigation. If you have been charged with insurance fraud or you feel like you may be at risk of being charged, hire an experienced insurance fraud attorney to back you up.

It’s also important to note that the second half of that definition is focused on insurance providers. Insurance companies can (and do!) commit insurance fraud. When an insurance company commits insurance fraud, it’s often referred to as a bad faith insurance case. “Bad faith” means that the insurance company—which you paid in good faith—is now trying to renege on their obligation to you as their client and avoid paying out a valid claim. Unfortunately, this is sometimes accomplished by focusing on a technicality and trying to scare you into dropping the claim by threatening you with insurance fraud charges.

Sounds screwy right?! We think so too. That’s why we committed ourselves to insurance bad faith and personal injury—because the people of Brookings South Dakota deserve to be treated fairly and receive the benefits that they’ve been paying for.

Signs You Need To Hire an Insurance Fraud Attorney

If you are experiencing any of the following occurrences, it may be time to Google “how to find the best insurance fraud attorney in Brookings.”

1. Your Insurance Claim Was Denied

When you’re dealing with an insurance company, the first sign of trouble is often having your claim denied. Insurance companies are hypervigilant for any indicators of fraud. While this is a result of real fraud being committed on a regular basis, it can often lead to valid claims being denied for nitpicky or seemingly insignificant reasons.

A claim being denied is not always a sign that you are being investigated for fraud, but it is an indication that something may not be quite right with your claim. Take the time to re-read over your claim and your policy details to make sure that everything is filled out correctly and that you have coverage for everything listed on your claim.

If you go over your claim and everything seems correct, it’s time to consult with a bad faith insurance attorney. They’ll be able to look over your claim and tell you if you have a case. If you are being denied the benefits for which you have paid as a policyholder, a good insurance bad faith attorney can help you file a claim against your insurance company and get the reimbursement that you deserve.

2. Your Friends and Neighbors are Being Contacted

When an insurance company is investigating you for fraud, they dig deep into your financials, circumstances, and living situation. What they need to know is if you were realistically able to afford the items on your claim before they were damaged. To get a sense of your situation and character, they may contact your neighbors, friends, or family members to get their insight into the incident that led to the claim.

If your friends or family members contact you and tell you that the insurance company has reached out to them, you need to seek out the advice of an insurance fraud attorney. You may be under investigation for insurance fraud. Even if you are not officially under investigation, this can be a sign that your insurance company is looking for a reason not to pay your claim. Make sure that you aren’t a victim of insurance bad faith, and talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

3. You Accidentally Misrepresented the Facts on Your Claim

In order to cut back on fraud, insurance companies have made the claim process both lengthy and convoluted. Ironically, this sometimes makes it easier to make a mistake while you’re filling it out. Couple that with the stress of whatever incident is causing you to file the claim and you have a recipe for disaster—a missing zero, a shifted decimal point, or a hyperbolic word that misrepresents the extent of the damage.

Luckily, a lack of intent to deceive is one of several defenses available in the case of an accidentally incorrect claim. If you go over your claim and find that you’ve made an error, contact an insurance fraud attorney immediately. They will be able to guide you and develop a strategy designed to protect you from charges and possible arrest.