by MaxHerr » Fri May 14, 2010 09:37 am
COMMISSIONER POIZNER ANNOUNCES TWO SANTA CRUZ SUSPECTS ARRESTED, FACE CHARGES FOR FILING FALSE AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM
Woman Allegedly Got Into Accident, Then Bought Insurance, Lied About Time of Accident
Insurance Commissioner Poizner today announced the arrests of two suspects for allegedly presenting a false insurance claim, making false statements in support of an insurance claim, and conspiracy. Carrie Berlogar, 31, self-surrendered on May 7, and Dan Bahcall, 38, self-surrendered on May 12. Both were booked into the Santa Cruz County jail. Bail was set at $10,000.
"It is important for drivers to avoid allowing the stress of a car accident to compromise their judgment," said Commissioner Poizner. "Insurance fraud is never 'worth it.' Committing fraud will only result in a hefty fine or a jail sentence."
An investigation conducted by the California Department of Insurance, resulted in the arrest of Carrie Berlogar and Dan Bahcall on charges related to automobile insurance fraud. Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company (Esurance) reported this matter to the CDI in July 2009.
According to investigators, on June 18, 2009, Berlogar was backing out of her driveway in her 2001 Ford F150 when she collided into Bahcall’s parked Toyota Camry at approximately 3 p.m. Bahcall arrived at the scene and discovered the damage to his vehicle at approximately 5 p.m. Berlogar allegedly told Bahcall that she collided with his vehicle and did not have insurance, but was working on purchasing it.
Berlogar allegedly returned home and purchased an insurance policy online through Esurance at approximately 5:51p.m. Berlogar and Bahcall purportedly agreed to report that the accident occurred after she purchased the insurance policy in order to obtain coverage for the damage to Bahcall’s vehicle.
On June 19, 2009, Berlogar called Esurance and filed an insurance claim. Berlogar allegedly told Esurance that she backed into Bahcall’s vehicle on June 18 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Bahcall also called Esurance and reported that he discovered the damage to his vehicle between 10 and 11 p.m.
Esurance became suspicious when they reviewed the claim and noticed the date and time of Berlogar’s accident happened within hours of when she purchased the policy. Esurance referred the suspected fraud to CDI, which launched an investigation.
CDI investigators allege that Berlogar did not have insurance at the time of the accident. The potential loss for Esurance was $1,289.
Commissioner Poizner urges all Californians to obtain the automobile insurance that is required by law, so that they are adequately covered before accidents occur. The California Low Cost Auto Insurance program offers low-cost liability coverage to eligible Californians for under $400 per year.
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.
Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Nearly 2,800 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by CDI since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other three year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.
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Released by CDI on 5-13-2010
Woman Allegedly Got Into Accident, Then Bought Insurance, Lied About Time of Accident
Insurance Commissioner Poizner today announced the arrests of two suspects for allegedly presenting a false insurance claim, making false statements in support of an insurance claim, and conspiracy. Carrie Berlogar, 31, self-surrendered on May 7, and Dan Bahcall, 38, self-surrendered on May 12. Both were booked into the Santa Cruz County jail. Bail was set at $10,000.
"It is important for drivers to avoid allowing the stress of a car accident to compromise their judgment," said Commissioner Poizner. "Insurance fraud is never 'worth it.' Committing fraud will only result in a hefty fine or a jail sentence."
An investigation conducted by the California Department of Insurance, resulted in the arrest of Carrie Berlogar and Dan Bahcall on charges related to automobile insurance fraud. Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company (Esurance) reported this matter to the CDI in July 2009.
According to investigators, on June 18, 2009, Berlogar was backing out of her driveway in her 2001 Ford F150 when she collided into Bahcall’s parked Toyota Camry at approximately 3 p.m. Bahcall arrived at the scene and discovered the damage to his vehicle at approximately 5 p.m. Berlogar allegedly told Bahcall that she collided with his vehicle and did not have insurance, but was working on purchasing it.
Berlogar allegedly returned home and purchased an insurance policy online through Esurance at approximately 5:51p.m. Berlogar and Bahcall purportedly agreed to report that the accident occurred after she purchased the insurance policy in order to obtain coverage for the damage to Bahcall’s vehicle.
On June 19, 2009, Berlogar called Esurance and filed an insurance claim. Berlogar allegedly told Esurance that she backed into Bahcall’s vehicle on June 18 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Bahcall also called Esurance and reported that he discovered the damage to his vehicle between 10 and 11 p.m.
Esurance became suspicious when they reviewed the claim and noticed the date and time of Berlogar’s accident happened within hours of when she purchased the policy. Esurance referred the suspected fraud to CDI, which launched an investigation.
CDI investigators allege that Berlogar did not have insurance at the time of the accident. The potential loss for Esurance was $1,289.
Commissioner Poizner urges all Californians to obtain the automobile insurance that is required by law, so that they are adequately covered before accidents occur. The California Low Cost Auto Insurance program offers low-cost liability coverage to eligible Californians for under $400 per year.
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.
Commissioner Poizner oversees sixteen CDI Enforcement Branch regional offices throughout the state. Nearly 2,800 insurance fraud-related arrests have been made by CDI since Commissioner Poizner took office in 2007 - more arrests than have been made during any other three year period, under any previous insurance commissioner.
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Released by CDI on 5-13-2010
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 11:23 am Post Subject:
I see about ten or so of these a year....I guess 'we' forgot to wipe that "STUPID" mark off our collective foreheads... :roll:
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 11:49 am Post Subject:
I see about ten or so of these a year..
Yes, there are so many of them happening every year. I'm sure even Esurance will find more of the likes if they go down their records. There's nothing new except the fraudsters and the accident spots.
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 06:24 pm Post Subject:
Because of their business model, esurance certainly gets more than their fair share of such frauds. I think I seen at least a dozen similar press releases from the CDI with their name listed as the victim insurer in the last 12-18 months alone.
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 05:25 pm Post Subject:
Commissioner Poizner urges all Californians to obtain the automobile insurance that is required by law, so that they are adequately covered before accidents occur. The California Low Cost Auto Insurance program offers low-cost liability coverage to eligible Californians for under $400 per year.
In my state, you cannot register a car without insurance, and if you drop your insurance the insurance company will notify the DMV and they'll suspend your registration if you cannot provide proof of new coverage.
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:00 am Post Subject:
Same is true in California -- all insurers now report policy nonrenewals (insurer or insured), lapses, and cancellations electronically to the DMV.
Still doesn't prevent someone with keys and gas in the tank and air in the tires from driving without insurance.
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 03:24 am Post Subject: insurance
GOSH!! What a mess these people put themselves in!! In PA, you can't register a vehicle without Insurance, either. IN PA, if you don't have Insurance, you can really 'pay the price'. Also..it would be possible to lose your DL if you DON'T have it. I've driven, at one time, without Insurance, myself. ALMOST got caught, too!! Was a bit scary for me!! ANYWAY..hopefully people will think twice when attempting to try to 'pull the wool' over Insurance companies eyes. It's just NOT worth it.
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 06:59 am Post Subject:
I dont understand why taking risk, accident is an unforeseen disaster and its better to be safe than sorry, its not only about auto insurance, a (link removed by mod-lori) or let it be any other insurance can save your day.
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:47 am Post Subject:
Blue---read and adher to our terms of use please NO hawking of wares in our threads..PERIOD...
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:09 am Post Subject:
The dmv is a worthless department. It does very little for the benefit of the people. It does however help the gov to gain more control over the people and tax at the same time. I'm sick of it. Insurance I can understand, registering your vehicle is a bunch of BS.
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:14 am Post Subject:
Let me know when you get hit by a vehicle that either takes off on you or the person never bothered to get insurance.
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