Filtering out fraudulent claims is an important task that insurance companies in the State of Michigan are required to do. Filtering out fraudulent claims has been the subject of a lot of jurisprudence in the State of Michigan.
With that, let us discuss some of the tools that are critical to filtering out fraudulent claims.
The Tools and Steps
Generally, the following are the steps that jurisprudence in Michigan allows as steps to take in the process of the investigation:
- Obtaining affidavits regarding proofs for coverage;
- Completing signed applications for benefits;
- Signing authorizations for the release of school, employment, medical records, etc.;
- Attending a mental and/or physical examination;
- Submitting to unrecorded and/or recorded interviews conducted by the carrier or its agents; and
- Submitting to examinations under oath.
- While not an action that requires cooperation from the insured or claimant, insurers may also conduct surveillance to investigate the claim.
Let us discuss these tools.
Obtaining affidavits regarding proofs of coverage
One of the things that we always say is to make sure that you get witness testimonies as much as possible. The people who have seen the events unfold, the people who are passengers of the vehicle, the first responders, and any person who can either prove the fault of the individual or prove the innocence of the parties.
Obtaining affidavits as soon as possible is a good way for any person who has been involved in a car accident to deal with questions about insurance policies.
From the point of view of the owner of the insurance and vehicle, this can help their claim. From the point of view of the insurance company, this can help them prove fault or at least have an idea if fraud is involved in the case.
Completing signed applications for benefits
Insurance companies also make sure that the applications for the benefits are complete. The claims will be able to show the insurance company if there is a possibility of fraud or if the whole thing was an accident.
The signed application is an in-depth point for all parties. This could make or break the application since the insurance company will look into the facts claimed by the parties against all of the other claims that the parties claimed.
From the point of view of the owner of the insurance and the vehicle, a properly signed insurance benefit claim could make or break their claims.
On the other hand, from the point of view of the company, a completely signed application for the benefit starts the process of the investigation and helps them out.
Signing authorizations for the release of school, employment, medical records, etc.
Some parties will try to withhold evidence to make sure that things are decided in their favor. One case in Michigan decided to show that signing authorizations for the release of school, employment, as well as medical records can be a sign of the existence or the non-existence of fraud.
From the point of view of the individual who owns the vehicle and the insurance policy, signing authorizations is a sign of cooperation. On the other hand, from the point of view of the insurance company, it is a sign that the individual has nothing to hide since they can go over every single aspect of the claim and the insured is not trying to hide anything.
There are other tools that we will discuss in the next part of this series.
In Case of Doubt
In case of doubt, keep in mind that it is your no-fault insurance provider who would ultimately pay for your medical bills. As long as you get unlimited or no-limit coverage, you should be properly covered at a time when you need the best kind of coverage for your health and safety.
Contact Your Lawyer Today
If you have an insurance claim that you need assistance with, you should contact us today. A lawyer can help you get started with your claim. A lawyer at Haque Legal will see to it that your needs are met from the beginning to the end of the proceedings. You are always in good hands with Haque Legal and what it has to offer.
Disclaimer
The article that you have read is based on general applications of the law. It is not legal advice and it is not to be construed as any legal consultation with the firm. No client-attorney relationship is created when you read the articles we have provided.
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If you are having trouble filing an insurance claim, call us immediately. If you have any problem with the law or are seeking justice and truth, our numbers are standing by to take your call.