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53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1605, Chicago, IL 60604
5419 NORTH SHERIDAN ROAD, SUITE 113, Chicago, IL 60640
150 N Riverside Plaza, Suite 3000, Chicago, IL 60606
209 S. LaSalle St., 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
200 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., 2nd Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085
707 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 420, Northbrook, IL 60062
107 W Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
666 Russel Court, Suite 100, Woodstock, IL 60098-2664
225 W. Washington St., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60606
353 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654
70 West Madison Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60602
104 Main St, #2D, Park Ridge, IL 60068
2000 W Galena Blvd, Suite 202, Aurora, IL 60506
105 E. First St., Suite 101, Hinsdale, IL 60521
19333 East Grant Highway, PO Box 5, Marengo, IL 60152
33 North Dearborn Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60602
101 South Benton Street, Suite 201, Woodstock, IL 60098
617 W. Devon Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068
19 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085
1415 West 22nd Street, Tower Floor, Oak Brook, IL 60523
15255 S 94th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 3600, Chicago, IL 60602
2644 Dempster St, Ste 101, Park Ridge, IL 60068
6 S. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60603
70 E. Lake Street, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60601
Chicago Insurance Fraud Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Insurance Fraud attorneys in Chicago and checks their standing with Illinois bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is Insurance Fraud?
Insurance fraud is a broad category of criminal offense that can be perpetrated by claimants as well as the insurance policymakers themselves. Insurance agents or firms may, themselves, be complicit in fraud such as by refusing legal, lawful coverage claims by deception or unwillingness to pay.
What Are Some Common Types of Insurance Fraud?
Health care fraud, automobile accident fraud, property insurance fraud and personal injury fraud, as well as workers’ compensation fraud, are common categories of insurance fraud, although many others exist.
Health care fraud takes place when, for example, a doctor or other specialist bills a patient — or their insurer — for treatments that either did not take place whatsoever or were completely unnecessary. This practice is commonly referred to as “padding” a bill.
Auto insurance fraud can occur in situations where an accident is “staged” in order to cause damage to both vehicles, writing them off. Beyond this, healthcare fraud can also get involved, as personal injury claims can be the result of a vehicular accident.
In a similar scenario, property insurance fraud can take place if a property owner pays an individual to destroy an undesirable or unprofitable property via arson or some other means to gain a payout from the insurer.
Is Insurance Fraud Always Classified As a Felony?
Insurance fraud is most commonly classified as a felony — particularly when charged at the federal level, rather than at the state level — but there are instances in which insurance fraud can be charged as a misdemeanor.
In some states, for example, health care fraud is classified as a Class A misdemeanor unless accompanied by aggravated insurance fraud charges (meaning that the accused has participated in three separate instances of fraudulent behavior in the past 18 months). More generally, in other states, insurance fraud is classified as a misdemeanor if the amount defrauded from the insurer is less than $300. For amounts over $300, it is a felony charge (either Class 3 or Class 1).
Other states hold a similar legal categorization concerning health insurance fraud. Any healthcare fraud involving a sum defrauded of $950 or less is classified as a felony, while a sum defrauded of $950 or more is instead a felony.
Can You Go to Jail for Insurance Fraud in Illinois?
Those convicted of insurance fraud can face a jail term or a prison sentence. If you are being charged at the state level, and if you are being charged with a misdemeanor rather than a felony, it may be possible for your defense attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to avoid time in jail.
What Is the Penalty for Insurance Fraud?
Those convicted of insurance fraud at the federal level could face a penalty of up to 10 years. That penalty is generally enhanced to a maximum of 15 years if the insurer is placed into a financially precarious situation such as liquidation, rehabilitation or conservation.
At the state level, insurance fraud penalties vary. In instances of misdemeanor charges, a conviction could result in a penalty of up to one year in county jail as well as a fine. In situations involving more serious felony charges, a maximum of 15 years in prison could be the end result.
Monetary fines or restitution can also be a common penalty in response to an insurance fraud conviction. Such financial penalties also typically take the form of double — or in some cases, treble — damages. This means if you defrauded an insurer for $25,000, it is possible that (if convicted) you could be faced with $50,000 in fines in addition to any incarceration needing to be served.
Are You Accused of Insurance Fraud?
Committing fraud against insurance firms, such as making a false claim, is a serious criminal offense carrying long terms of confinement in state or federal prison. Insurance companies can be very sophisticated in recognizing and investigating fraudulent actions and generally prosecute these cases.
Insurance Fraud Legal Recourse
If you are facing criminal charges for fraud, you should immediately consult a defense lawyer who handles insurance fraud cases. The lawyer can explain your options and protect your constitutional rights. Your lawyer will investigate the alleged facts, challenge evidence and aggressively handle your defense. Your lawyer may also negotiate a plea agreement.