What Happens If You Lie To Insurance Company About Accident? A white lie has never hurt anyone, or so they say. After all, you pretended to be sick and not to meet a friend and you got away with it. Or you lied to your partner about the amount you spent on Black Friday Sales and avoided the consequences.
A lie can save you from some situations, but not with a reputable insurance company. The consequences of your lies can be dire, sometimes leading to a rejection of your claim, cancellation of your insurance policy, or even criminal prosecution in USA.
Did you know that lying to your insurer is considered insurance fraud? What happens if you lie to insurance company about accident? Read on to find out.
Common Lies When Mistakes Are Made: Telling Directors to Avoid Liability
Insurers know the tricks that guilty road users often play and can usually smell the lies from afar. Below are some common lies that auto insurance companies report to drivers after an accident.
“My friends and relatives never drive my car.”
If someone not on your insurance policy drives your car and has an accident, your rates go up. Lying to your insurance company about who was driving your vehicle during the accident could result in your claim being denied.
“My turn signal was on before I changed lanes.”
In Bowling Green, lying about your behavior at the time of the accident cannot end well. This includes lying about how fast you are driving, taking a wrong turn, or stopping at an intersection. If witnesses say otherwise, you could be held liable in whole or in part for the accident and your claims could even be blocked.
“My boyfriend lives with me.”
If you don’t count all the household members who drive your vehicle, insurance claims can be denied, especially in Bowling Green, Kentucky for PIP, uninsured or underinsured.
Lies By Omission
Silence is a powerful weapon and sometimes lies are the things we don’t say. The silent lies that can get you in trouble are:
- Do not name all conductors in your household, e.g. students and teenagers
- Don’t tell the insurance company you use your car for business
- Do not report previous damage to your car
- Don’t admit you were drunk while driving
If you are involved in a car accident and the wrong driver is lying about the facts, try not to argue and report your version to the police. Write down any details you remember about the scene as this will go a long way in proving your claims. In USA, you may be in partial default and failure to disclose key facts may result in part of your claim being denied.
Then choose a qualified attorney with a proven track record of winning personal injury cases to represent you. It is more likely that the error driver is lying.
What Happens If You Lie To Insurance Company About Accident?
If you lie, you will face serious consequences, including:
Cancellation of your insurance
Canceling your policy will make it difficult to find a new policy elsewhere, and if you do, you may have to pay more. Canceling your privacy policy puts you in a high-risk category, which automatically makes it harder and more expensive to find auto insurance.
Rejection of your claim
If you lie to your auto insurance company about your daily driving habits, your claim could be denied if you have an accident. Such lies include inaccurate mileage, misinformation about the number of people driving your car, or even lying about other injuries resulting from the accident.
Losing your right to compensation
Most auto insurance companies will inspect the car for the extent of damage after making a claim. The company’s claims adjuster will examine your vehicle before accepting your claim. In the event of irregularities, your insurer may reject your claim and you will ultimately lose all your rights to compensation.
You may be denied car insurance in the future
If your auto insurance company finds out that you provided incorrect information when purchasing your policy, it could be canceled for fraud and tampering. They may also blacklist you to prevent you from using their services in the future. Kentucky law requires that they do not do business or communicate with you in this instance.
You can get fines and penalties
If your insurer finds out that you lied to them, they can impose a hefty fine or penalty on you. To continue using your insurance policies or to prevent them from making a claim, you must pay this penalty.
You could be prosecuted
In Bowling Green, New York, Los Angeles and other States in USA, the company can sue you because lying is a form of insurance fraud, which can cost you a permanent criminal record, jail time, or hefty fines.
Honesty And Consciousness: The Gateway To Prevent Lying Against Your Insurance Company
Once an accident has occurred, whether innocent or at fault, always be honest and concise with your story. If your sentences do not match those of the other driver or eyewitnesses, the insurer will investigate. But if your story doesn’t change no matter how many times you tell it, the truth will eventually prevail.
Here are simple tips and tricks for being consistent and concise when telling your story:
- Use clear and simple language
- If you are unsure about anything, talk to your attorney first, who will help you present the information while remaining credible.
- Limit the amount of information you provide. Just report the basic information about the accident and tell the company to talk extensively with your lawyer.
Collection And Storage Of Evidence For Future Reference
After an accident, request a police report and contact eyewitnesses who are willing to testify to what happened at the scene to substantiate your claims. If the other driver at fault has previously been charged with driving violations, a police report will go a long way to support your claim.
Before the police arrive, be sure to take photos at the scene, including the accident status of your car. They will serve as evidence to support your claim. Our team also collects photos of damaged vehicles.
I already lied to the insurance company. What now?
As you can imagine, honesty is the best policy when it comes to talking to the insurance company. However, it is important to note that mistakes and harmless mistakes are not the same as lying to your insurer. If this happens, insurance companies will usually understand and allow you to make changes to your claim. However, this is not always the case. That’s why we recommend that you talk to a lawyer before you talk to your insurance company.
Intentionally lying to the insurance company, on the other hand, is another matter. If the deception is discovered, the file will likely be sent to the police for further action. At this point, it is wise to consult a criminal defense attorney about your legal options.
Although the law imposes severe penalties for insurance fraud, many of these cases do not lead to legal proceedings. However, that doesn’t mean you can get away with lying to your insurance company. Even if no criminal charges are filed against you, your insurer still has the right to cancel your coverage, reject your claim, call you a high-risk driver, and any other non-legal (i.e., not above the law, not the same ) as illegal) act against you.
Contact A Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’re not sure what to tell the insurance company, you’re not alone. Calling and reporting an accident to the party that will reimburse you only in the right circumstances can be stressful. That’s why we recommend that you consult an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney before speaking with your insurance company to make sure you don’t say the wrong thing.
In addition, you often have a better chance of getting the full compensation you deserve if you work with a car accident attorney. This is because insurance companies will not hesitate to pressure victims into accepting a low settlement, using language like, “This is our best offer – take it or leave it.” Personal injury lawyers know these tactics and won’t back down until they get the settlement or judgment you owe.
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