Auto Insurance Claims/fraud

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Expert: - 9/14/2009


Question
hi, my question is ths; i parked my car on a street, told my girlfriend to move it for but she never did and she told me she did. next week, i go get my car, my car wasnt there and it wasn't towed. call the police and my insurance. i lied i told them that i personally move my car yesterday, after i spoke to my insurance, the cops called me and told me that my car was stripped and crushed since last week, so i had to change my story with the insurance.
they are investigating fraud, will i get paid for my car or not?

Answer
Hello,

Well, you admit you lied, which is a felony in most states for a false police report. Since you admitted you lied about this, the insurance company is going to question what else did you lie about?

Chances are real good that your claim will be denied and be happy if this is all that happens.

Never, never lie to the police or the insurance companies. Our firm will never support fraud of any kind and I know we would never get involved to defend such a case.

The problem with lying is that rarely can the same story be told.

Personally, I would recommend recinding your theft claim and hope that the insurance company and cops don't want to make an example of you.

Rob

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Rob Painter, Ase, CFEI, CAFATE

Expertise

Please remember. I am not an attorney and cannot legal advice. My answers are based on my experience due to litigation I have been involved in as an expert, for both insurance companies and while oposing them opposing them. I deal with only comprehensive claims on autos related to fire and theft. I have even had the opportunity to rewrite policy coverage language as it relates to vehicle theft and forced entry for insurance defense attorneys.

Experience

Experience in the area: Working with insurance companies and attorneys on these issues for over 20 years. It is very common to have a reported stolen car with a so-called factory anti-theft system to have the theft claim denied. I have served successfully as an expert witness in the courts across the US representing the insured and their attorney revealing that the insurance expert did not take all known theories into consideration before rendering their "Forensic" conclusion. Many insurance carriers us independent "Forensic" experts to examine reported stolen vehicles commonly using flawed methodology implicating the innocent insured with the theft. My job is to determine if the insurance expert reached his conclusions based on accepted scientific principals or just net opinion with no basis other than opinion. My case record against such experts is very compelling.My resume can be seen at the catagory "Auto Theft and Prevention." In "Forensics" the scientific method must be employed. In the forensic locksmith field determining how a reported stolen vehicle was last operated, many processes cannot be duplicated and are conveniently not addressed. If they were, juries would have the opportunity to make a fair and impartial opinion at least about what the expert could or could not prove. There is a purported process determining the last key used. The chances of determining such is very rare uless the key is found in the ignition lock. Experts commonly destroy evidence as well and are rarely questioned on this event. I reveal the weakness in their testimony on such instances.

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