Individuals accused of committing workers’ compensation fraud in Colorado can be charged with a class 5 felony and can be sentenced to up to three years in prison if convicted.

While the Colorado workers compensation system has been set up to protect workers who are injured on the job, unfortunately, people may try to take advantage of this system by fraudulently attempting to obtain benefits that should go to legitimately injured workers. According to the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act, workers’ compensation fraud is legally defined as the act of making a false statement or representation on a workers’ compensation claim in order to secure benefits, payments, compensation or awards.

In Colorado, allegations of workers’ compensation fraud are handled by the Workers’ Compensation Investigation Unit. In order for official criminal charges of workers’ compensation fraud to be brought against a person, investigators must be able to prove that:

• The accused person made false statements or representations on his claims forms.
• The false statements or representations were intentionally made to defraud the system of funds or awards.
• The final claim decision in the case was based on the false statements or representations on the claims forms.

Allegations of Workers’ Compensation Fraud

While the person who is claiming a work-related injury and seeking workers’ compensation benefits may be the individual acting fraudulently, many other parties may also be the subject of workers’ compensation claim investigations. Some of these can include (but are not limited to) insurance companies who may deny legitimate claims and/or employers who misrepresent the truth to try to avoid having to cover a legitimate work injury claim.

Individuals who are accused of committing workers’ compensation fraud in Colorado can be charged with a class 5 felony, which can be punishable by up to three years in prison, up to two years of mandatory parole and fines of up to $100,000 upon conviction.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you have sustained a workplace injury and are considering (or in the process of) filing a workers compensation claim, it’s essential that you contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our legal professionals have a proven track record of success when it comes to securing our Clients the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and financial losses. For a thorough evaluation of your case, along with expert advice on the best manner in which to move forward, call us at (303) 447-2644.