Workers’ compensation laws and benefits are in place to protect both employers and employees in the event of workplace injury. In general, employees have the right to workers’ comp benefits if they sustain a workplace injury, even if they caused the injury themselves. However, employers are typically protected if and can’t be sued for more damages.
Despite the fact that many people and companies comply workers’ compensation laws, some people and/or corporations may try to manipulate the system in order to fraudulently profit from it.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Fraud
If you have suffered a workplace injury and are preparing to file a workers’ compensation claim – or if you are currently battling an insurer for workers’ comp benefits, contact Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law.
Accidental Fraud
While many cases of workers’ compensation fraud are committed by parties trying to profit from the system, in some cases, people may accidentally commit this type of fraud because they aren’t experienced with submitting these claims.
The St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyers at Brown & Brown are here to defend the rights of injured workers and to help them get the full amount of benefits to which they are entitled.
Workers’ Compensation Fraud Charges and Penalties
In the state of Illinois, workers’ comp fraud under $300 is a misdemeanor and is punishable by $2,500 in fines and up to one year in prison. Workers’ compensation fraud becomes a felony in Illinois when the amount is over $100,000. Felonious workers’ comp fraud may result in a minimum of four years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
Missouri Workers’ Compensation Fraud Charges and Penalties
According to Missouri law regarding workers’ compensation fraud (Section 287.128, RSMo), workers’ compensation fraud may be either a:
- Class A misdemeanor, which will typically be the case when a person has conspired to commit workers’ comp fraud and/or knowingly submitted a fraudulent workers’ comp claim. Upon conviction, the penalties associated with these charges can include up to $10,000 in fines or double the amount of money fraudulently taken (whichever is greater)
- Class D felony, which will generally be the case when a person has allegedly falsified documents regarding having workers’ compensation insurance coverage. If convicted of these charges, a person can be fined as much as $10,000 or up to double the amount of money fraudulently taken (whichever is greater)
- Class C felony, which will be the case when a person commits this type of fraud after already having been convicted of committing workers’ compensation fraud
Contact Brown & Brown
Our St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyers have a long-standing commitment to aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any and all legal settings. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses, and who need help navigating the complexities of the court system.
Our unwavering dedication to our clients’ rights means that we will work tirelessly to help our clients achieve the best possible outcomes to their cases. One of our primary goals is to help injured workers secure the maximum possible workers’ compensation benefits for their injuries and losses so they can focus on their recovery and future.
For a free initial consultation, email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen or call us at 314-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office.
