It is Against the Law to File a Fraudulent Workers’ Compensation Claim in California
California’s workers’ compensation laws technically exist to serve a valid purpose that benefits both workers and their employers. Workers benefit from the workers’ comp system by having a clear means of seeking financial compensation when they’ve been injured in on-the-job accidents or developed health problems as a result of their work.
Workers’ compensation can also protect employers when workers are hurt. If an injured or sick employee files a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, they typically can’t sue their employer for negligence.
Unfortunately, there are some who attempt to take advantage of this system by pursuing benefits they don’t deserve. Doing so is a crime in California. Penalties employees may face if they’re convicted of workers’ compensation fraud include:
- Incarceration
- Fines
Additionally, if it’s determined in civil court that an employee has committed workers’ compensation fraud, they may incur thousands of dollars in civil penalties as well.
Van Nuys Workers’ Compensation Fraud: Common Examples
Workers’ compensation fraud can take several potential forms. They include the following:
- An employee seeking workers’ compensation benefits despite not having actually sustained any injuries
- An employee exaggerating the severity or nature of their injuries to receive more benefits than they may deserve
- An employee seeking workers’ compensation benefits for an injury that was sustained outside of work
- An employee seeking workers’ compensation benefits after willfully harming themselves in hopes of a payout
That isn’t necessarily an exhaustive list. It’s possible for employees to engage in forms of workers’ compensation fraud that are not listed here.
If you’re not sure whether an employee’s actions qualify as an example of workers’ compensation fraud, review the matter with a legal professional who has experience handling such matters to learn more. A Van Nuys workers’ compensation fraud lawyer with our firm will gladly answer any questions you may have about this topic.
How a Van Nuys Workers’ Compensation Fraud Lawyer Can Help
Proving that an employee has attempted to commit workers’ compensation fraud can be challenging if you lack experience handling these matters. You’ll benefit in these circumstances from enlisting the help of a legal professional who’s worked with clients like yourself in the past. Examples of ways we might help you demonstrate a worker is engaging in fraud include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Reviewing any available security footage that could contradict a worker’s story about how an accident occurred
- Identifying inconsistencies in a worker’s story
- Interviewing witnesses whose accounts might contradict the way an employee describes their accident
- Monitoring social media posts and an employee’s activities for signs that they’re lying about their injuries
Contact our Van Nuys Workers’ Compensation Fraud Law Firm Today
You don’t have to sit by and let an unscrupulous employee take advantage of the workers’ compensation system if you have strong reason to believe they’re guilty of fraud. For more information about how a Van Nuys workers’ compensation fraud attorney at Sacks Law Group, APC can help you, contact us onlineor call us at 310-216-7778.
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READ THE REVIEWSEmployers Workers' Compensation Defense
The workers’ compensation defense attorneys at our firm know how to build a strong wall of defense around employers, protecting California employers from frivolous and fraudulent workers’ compensation claims. Sacks Law Group, APC, is skilled at working with in-state and out-of-state employers on all workers’ compensation defense issues, particularly in the areas of:
Prior to any alleged injury or accident, we also counsel employers on ways to stay compliant with the ever-evolving California workers’ compensation laws. California employers benefit from our extensive experience and strong credentials when dealing with employee workers’ compensation fraud, as well as allegations of employer workers’ compensation fraud.