I read with great interest a story in the Orlando Sentinel about the arrest of a chiropractic clinic manager for insurance fraud. As an Orlando accident attorney, I know that when state insurance investigators get tough on insurance fraud, this should logically translate to all of us experiencing lower insurance premiums (however, more on that in a later post).
According to the Sentinel, Jean Ely Colin was been accused by the Florida Department of Financial Services for falsifying patient records, generating reports on phantom patients, and improperly billing State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, and others. Mr. Colin has also been accused of operating an unlicensed health care clinic.
Nobody hates insurance fraud more than truly injured people, and the experienced personal injury lawyers who represent them. Fraudulent claims and people running shady medical clinics do nothing but make things more difficult for people who are legitimately injured to achieve a fair recovery. The sad thing is that many people who have been injured in Florida car accidents do not realize that their names or personal information is being used by these sketchy clinics to perpetrate their fraud.
Honorable people who have suffered real injuries in a Florida automobile accident should ask around before selecting a medical provider. A personal referral from a trusted friend or family member is probably best. These days there are so many websites that offer reviews of doctors and medical clinics, a simple Google search would be a start in the right direction. It would probably also be wise for a truly injured person to avoid the 1-800 doctor and lawyer referral services that seem to have popped up in the last couple of years.
If you have been involved in a Central Florida auto accident and have questions about insurance, medical treatment, or your rights, call Winter Park personal injury lawyers Kim Cullen and Bob Hemphill at 407-644-4444.
