Fraudulent insurance claims are prevalent throughout the entire nation and cost insurers and honest policy holders tens of billions of dollars each year. Fraudulent insurance claims activities have reached epidemic proportions in Florida, and are becoming more common in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. Insurance fraud rings are highly organized networks of interlocking runners, public adjusters, roofers, water remediation contratctors, attorneys, auto body shops, doctors and medical clin- ics. Fraud can also permeate individual injury claims and property losses. Also, Workers’ Compensation premium avoidance. Areas of fraud that we handle include:
- Arson Claims (Commercial and Residential)
- Automobile Body Shop Fraud
- Automobile Insurance Fraud (Including PIP, BI, UM and Material Damage Claims)
- Automobile Staged Accidents
- Business Fraud (Including Embezzlement, Defalcation and Theft)
- Catastrophe & Hurricane Claims
- Declaratory Judgment Actions and Examinations Under Oath
- Homeowner Policy Fraud (Including Theft, Fire, Water Damage and Sink Hole Claims)
- Insurance Agent/Broker Fraud
- Insurance Application Fraud and Misrepresentation
- Inter-Company Investigations & Prosecutions
- Medical Provider Fraud
- Minimal Injury/Impact Claims
- Pre-Suit Investigations and Consultation
- Workers’ Compensation Claim Fraud
- Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud
VERNIS & BOWLING approaches fraudulent claims aggressively and thoroughly, combining cutting-edge technology, industry networking and resources with old-fashioned, hard-nosed lawyering. We combine our aggressive litigation style with our proven trial court record as well as our strong relationships with local law enforcement and regulatory agencies, to produce speedy and favorable results. By working in concert with claims professionals and investigators, we constantly strive to present a consistent and effective front against all forms of fraud. This approach impacts not only those claims already presented against our clients, but it also influences decisions to bring new claims in the future.
VERNIS & BOWLING’s S.I.U/Insurance Fraud attorneys are comprised of trial attorneys whose individual practices include the handling of insurance fraud cases. Our members supplement their litigation experience with up-to-date knowledge of the current trends in insur- ance fraud detection and prosecution areas. They regularly attend, speak at, and participate in seminars given by industry organizations such as the following: National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the International Association of Special Investigation Units, and Certified Fraud Examiners. In addition, they also attend and speak at numerous local conferences and association meetings throughout the country.
Our S.I.U/Insurance Fraud attorneys also provide valuable input in the investigatory stage and prosecution of affirmative fraud actions against organized groups or “rings”. By litigating these actions on behalf of our clients, we are able to pursue the recovery of benefits and costs paid out to individuals, companies and conspirators for fraudulent claims. Significant fees and penalties can also be recovered in certain cases. We also maintain an internal communication system to enable our clients to benefit from the exchange of information with other clients investigating the same individuals and businesses. Access to this information, as well as a constant dialogue between attorneys and internal training, allows them to immediately incorporate current law and recent events in the fraud industry into defense strategies. We, in turn, enable our clients to incorporate this knowledge and experience into investigations by providing them with updates concerning recent developments in the industry.