{"id":372289,"date":"2016-04-11T01:21:50","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-insurance-fraud-laws-1.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:51:40","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:51:40","slug":"district-of-columbia-insurance-fraud-laws-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-insurance-fraud-laws-1.html","title":{"rendered":"District of Columbia Insurance Fraud Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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District of Columbia Insurance Fraud Laws <\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

People across America purchase many different forms of insurance just in case an unforeseen accident occurs. Fraudulent insurance companies try to take advantage of these people by obtaining premiums without providing any insurance when it is needed the most. District of Columbia insurance fraud<\/a> laws make it a crime for these companies to perform these unthinkable acts. This is a quick summary of the insurance fraud laws in the District of Columbia.<\/p>\n

The Varying Degrees of Insurance Fraud in the District of Columbia<\/h2>\n

Under the District of Columbia’s criminal code, the degree of the crime depends on the amount of money obtained or caused to be lost and whether a perpetrator either attempted or actually committed the crime. The following table outlines the specifics of District of Columbia insurance fraud laws.<\/p>\n\n
Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\n

District of Columbia Official Code \u00a722-32<\/a>: Insurance Fraud<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

What’s Prohibited?<\/b><\/td>\n

According to District of Columbia law, a person commits the offense if he or she knowingly engages in the following conduct with the intent to defraud or to fraudulently obtain property of another:<\/p>\n

Insurance Fraud in the First Degree<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Insurance fraud in the first degree<\/a> occurs if, while engaged in insurance fraud, a fraudster obtains property of another or causes another to lose property and the value of the property obtained or lost is $1,000 or more.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Insurance Fraud in the Second Degree<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

A person commits the offense of insurance fraud in the second degree<\/a> if while engaged in insurance fraud, a fraudster attempts to obtain property of another and the value of the property which is sought to be obtained is $1,000 or more.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Misdemeanor Insurance Fraud<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

A person commits the offense of misdemeanor insurance fraud<\/a> if a fraudster merely engages in the act of insurance fraud.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Penalties<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

First Degree<\/u>: Subject to a fine of up to $50,000, imprisoned for up to 15 years, or both.<\/p>\n

Second Degree<\/u>: Subject to a fine of up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both. Second offenders of this crime will be fined up to $20,000, imprisoned up to 10 years, or both.<\/p>\n

Misdemeanor<\/u>: Subject to a fine of up to $1,000, imprisoned for up to 180 days, or both.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

If you have been accused of violating an insurance fraud law and would like legal assistance, you can contact a District of Columbia criminal defense lawyer<\/a> through FindLaw. Visit FindLaw’s sections on insurance fraud<\/a> and other fraud and financial crimes<\/a> for more articles and information on this topic.<\/p>\n

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