When Do You Need an Insurance Fraud Lawyer?
If you have been accused of any type of insurance fraud in Canada, it is essential to consult with a lawyer for insurance fraud. You can commit insurance fraud in numerous different ways, such as:
- Deceiving your insurance company to obtain improper financial benefits by making false statements (in other words, purposely overestimating the amount of damages you suffered)
- Intentionally destroying property, such as intentionally setting a structure on fire
- Exaggerating information about your claimed loss
- Omitting information that the insurer required
Insurance fraud is a criminal offense. It is illegal to make false statements on your application for insurance. In addition, it is illegal for you to file a fraudulent claim to obtain payments to cover a loss.
There are many types of insurance that you can make fraudulent claims against, such as:
- Automobile insurance
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
The penalties you may face for criminal insurance fraud may include incarceration and criminal fines. It is important to be aware that many insurance companies actively watch for fraud.
Some companies even have investigative units which detect fraudulent claims. These units may also investigate potentially fraudulent claims.
If you are prosecuted for criminal insurance fraud, the prosecution has to prove every element of the offense you are charged with, which typically include:
- Knowingly making a false or misleading statement
- Making the statement related to a payment or a claim
- The statement is material
- This means it can have an impact on the outcome of the claim
Your lawyer will be able to present a defense on your behalf to show that the prosecution cannot prove all of the elements of the claim against you. Your insurance fraud attorney can also negotiate with the prosecution for a reduction in the charges against you or a plea bargain.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Insurance Fraud Lawyer in Canada?
How much it will cost you to hire an insurance fraud lawyer will vary based on several factors, including, but not limited to:
- The complexity the criminal case or charges against you
- Your lawyer’s experience and reputation in your area
- The geographical location where your lawyer is practicing
- The billing arrangement your attorney will use in your case, which may be:
- Hourly rate
- Flat fee
- Retainer fee
- Contingency fee
If your insurance fraud attorney handles your case using hourly fees, their fees will commonly range between CA$200 to CA$500 or more.
What to Look for in an Insurance Fraud Lawyer?
It may be helpful to look for certain things in your insurance fraud attorney to help you with your charges. It is important to find a lawyer with whom you are comfortable sharing personal information and communicating with on a regular basis.
When trying to determine if an attorney is a good fit for your needs, there are some things you may want to ask them, such as:
- If they will be offering a free consultation
- The fee structure they will use in your case
- If they have handled similar types of cases
- What were the results of their previous cases
- The length of time they expect your case to take to resolve
- How often you will be updated on your case
- The method that they will use to update you and contact you
- If what you say during the consultation will be covered by the attorney-client privilege
How to Prepare for Your Consultation With an Insurance Fraud Lawyer?
There are several steps you can take to prepare for your meeting with your insurance fraud lawyer to ensure they are able to prepare the best defense against the charges you are facing. You should take time to gather documents and evidence before you go to the meeting, such as:
- Documents that are related to the criminal charges against you
- Documents from other criminal charges or cases you may have had previously
- Evidence that your lawyer may be able to use to have the charges against your reduced, such as:
- Recordings
- Images
- Videos
- Text messages
- Possible witnesses and their contact information
- Anything else that you think might be helpful for your lawyer to use
It is very important that you make a written list of any questions or concerns you may have to discuss with your lawyer. For example, you might want to ask about what services your attorney’s fees will cover as well as confirm the fee arrangement they will be using.
Other issues you may want to ask about include:
- The availability of alternative punishment programs
- The possibility or reducing the charges against you
- The penalties you may face if you are convicted
Where to Find Insurance Fraud Lawyers in Canada?
Choosing LegalMatch to help you find your insurance fraud lawyer in Canada is a free and convenient way for you to be matched with a lawyer in your area who is ready to start working on your case. If you have not been successful searching online for “insurance fraud lawyers near me” or “insurance fraud attorneys near me,” LegalMatch will provide you with helpful information and direct contact with lawyers in your area, whether you live in a small town or a large city, such as Montreal, Vancouver, or Toronto.
When you take advantage of the attorney matching services provided by LegalMatch, you will get information about insurance fraud lawyers near you easily by:
- Submitting your issue: Submit information about your issues on the website in about 15 minutes.
- Getting matched: Messages from insurance fraud attorneys will be sent to you in about 24 hours.
- Choosing a lawyer: The lawyer matches you receive will have information about their:
- Background
- Education
- Fee arrangements
- Client reviews
The information you get in the lawyer matches you receive from LegalMatch will help you find a pre-screened and licensed insurance fraud attorney near you.
