PIP Fraud Cases in Florida
Detectives in Florida's Division of Insurance Fraud responded to thousands of tips of suspected insurance fraud. Recent studies and statistics on insurance fraud show that nearly fifty percent (50%) of these insurance fraud tips involved allegations of “PIP” fraud.
Referrals of suspected PIP fraud has increased nearly twenty-one percent (21%) since last year. In 2010, more than 1,000 PIP fraud cases were presented for prosecution resulting in nearly 1,000 arrests and more than 800 convictions. These PIP fraud cases in Florida also resulted in restitution amounts being court ordered which totaled more than $156 million.
If you or your company is under investigation for any type of PIP or insurance fraud then contact an experienced insurance fraud defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm. Never speak to law enforcement or any investigator until after you have consulted with a criminal defense attorney.
Our white collar crime defense attorney representing individuals in PIP fraud investigations throughout the Tampa Bay area including Tampa in Hillsborough County, Bradenton in Manatee County, Clearwater and St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, New Port Richey and Dade City in Pasco County, Brooksville in Hernando County, Lakeland and Bartow in Polk County, FL.
PIP Fraud Investigations in Tampa, FL
In Hillsborough County the PIP squads in the Tampa Field Office received more than 1,400 suspicious PIP claim referrals submitted by the general public and the personal injury insurance industry. Law enforcement officers focused on the financial activities of various medical clinics often through the use of confidential informants.
Many of these cases involve staged car accidents. In fact, Tampa has been named as the number-one city in the State of Florida for staged auto accidents according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Since Hillsborough County, including Tampa, has become ground zero for PIP fraud investigations, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has focused on staged motor vehicle accidents by increasing surveillance and patrols, while asking the public to report suspicious accidents.
In 2010, the department has reported more than 100 arrests resulting in 150 criminal charges involving staged accidents. The State Attorneys Office in Hillsborough County expects several more of these long term investigations to come to completion in 2012 which often leads to the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Many of the fraud complaints involving staged car accidents are submitted through the Florida Department of Financial Services by using the online Fraud Reporting Website. Staged car accidents often use chiropractic clinics that file fraudulent medical claims to insurance companies for PIP automobile insurance coverage.
Law enforcement officers have developed methods of targeting individuals with a medical license who engage in insurance fraud, fraduluent billing practices and patient brokering specifically including chiropractic clinics. Staged motor vehicle fraud has grown substantially in the Tampa Bay area including St. Petersburg and Clearwater in Pinellas County and New Port Richey and Dade City in Pasco County, FL.
The WEST CENTRAL REGION Division of Insurance Fraud and PIP Fraud Contacts includes: Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Polk County, and Sarasota County.
Tampa Field Office - 813.972.8602
Videos on Insurance and PIP Fraud in Florida
Video by produced by NICB, the National Insurance Crime Bureau explaining the swoop and squat - one of the most frequently seen insurance scams involving innocent Florida driver's.