Workers’ Compensation was established to provide wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured during the course of their employment. When the coverage works well it provides valuable assistance to those that need it most. However, when it is abused, the fraudulent behavior of a small minority can hinder the success of honest and genuine claimants.
Fraudulent claims can often extend way beyond exaggerated medical conditions or working for cash while supposedly disabled and are costing the industry and citizens billions of dollars each year.
What Is Workers’ Compensation Fraud?
Workers’ compensation fraud occurs when someone willfully makes a false statement or conceals information in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits. It is also considered to be fraudulent if the person or organization prevents someone from receiving benefits to which they might be entitled.
Examples of Workers’ Compensation fraud committed by individuals could include:
- Malingering or exaggeration of symptoms
- Working while allegedly disabled and not reporting income
- Claiming a job-related injury that never occurred
- Claiming a non-work related injury as a work-related injury
There are far too many incidences of attempted Workers’ Compensation fraud for us to cover in one article, but believe us when we say that no scam has been left untouched. Individuals that tried to fake their injuries, took on extra work or even boasted about their fraudulent ways on social media, all came unstuck in the end.
In some cases, it can even be the employer themselves who are committing fraud, in an attempt to avoid paying workers’ compensation premiums. Some unscrupulous employers have tried a variety of tricks to accomplish this goal, including:
- Underreporting payroll or misclassifying employees for lower insurance premiums
- Deducting premium dollars from employee’s wages
- The employer knowingly fails to have necessary workers’ compensation coverage
- Reduce their workers’ compensation premium by misclassifying employees
Finally, and perhaps most insultingly, there have even been instances of health care providers trying to take advantage of the Workers’ Compensation benefits for their own ill-gotten gains. Examples have included:
- Providing unnecessary testing or treatment of injured workers to reap financial benefit
- Billing for services or treatment never performed
- Billing the workers’ compensation insurer and the workers’ health insurer for the same services
Fraud By Default?
Some individuals have unwittingly committed fraud during the process of making a claim because they do not fully understand their obligations. To ensure that this is not the case with your claim, always use the services of an expert Attorney who specializes in securing the maximum benefit for Workers in Florida.
The Law Offices of Ala Alikhani, P.A. offers advice and guidance to those looking to claim Workers’ Compensation benefits in the state of Florida. Don’t get caught out. Speak to us today to find out how we can obtain all of the benefits you are entitled to on your behalf.
When you hire the Law Offices of Ala Alikhani, P.A. to represent you, we go to extremes to ensure employers and their insurance companies are held accountable and that you receive the benefits you are entitled to by the law.
Were you injured at work? Contact us for a FREE consultation. We are available throughout all times of the day to discuss your case with you. Our office is fluent in Creole and Spanish.
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-No out of pocket fees or costs unless you recover.
-Covering Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and all throughout the State of Florida.
370 Camino Gardens Blvd., Suite 325
Boca Raton, FL 33432
TOLL FREE: (844) 762-8155
PHONE: (561) 617-1672