The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm | December 1, 2025 | Personal Injury
False insurance claims can cause major headaches for innocent drivers. Whether you’ve been wrongly accused of causing a crash or your policy is being used without cause, you must act quickly. A false claim can raise your premiums, damage your driving record, or even lead to fraud accusations.
If you’re dealing with a misleading or inaccurate claim in Virginia, legal guidance can make all the difference. Keep reading to learn how to protect your rights.
Understanding a False Insurance Claim
A “false” insurance claim doesn’t always mean a deliberate fraud. It could be a claim filed under the wrong person’s name, an exaggerated injury, or even a staged incident. The result is the same: you’re left defending yourself against a claim you didn’t cause or that misattributes liability to you.
Under Virginia law, making a false or fraudulent claim can trigger serious legal consequences. For example, Virginia law defines “insurance fraud” as knowingly providing incomplete or misleading information to an insurer for the purpose of obtaining benefits. It is a crime to knowingly or willfully make a false statement of a material fact in connection with an insurance claim.
As the accused party, even if you did nothing wrong, your insurance provider may assume you did. Adjusters may push you to “explain” your side immediately. This can impact your record and your premiums. That’s why immediate and thoughtful action matters.
How to Dispute a False Claim: The Step-by-Step Process
Protecting yourself from a false or fraudulent claim is a process.
Here are the steps:
Don’t Ignore the Notice
If you receive any form of claim notice, your first reaction should be to preserve every bit of evidence. Don’t assume the claim will vanish. Save all letters, emails, messages, and any documentation.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Let your insurer know as soon as you become aware of a claim that may involve you. Provide your perspective. Tell them whether you were not involved, the facts are misstated, or the claimant’s version runs contrary to the evidence. Early notice helps protect you under your policy obligations.
Gather and Preserve Evidence
Actively collect evidence that supports your version of the facts.
This may include:
- Photos or videos of the incident scene or your vehicle at the time
- Witness contact information and statements
- Maintenance or usage records of your vehicle
- Your own timeline, location, phone logs, or travel records
- Medical or repair records showing your condition before the date in question
The more complete your documentation, the stronger your factual position in the case.
Review the Insurer’s Claim File
Your insurer may share information from their investigation. Review the claim report, obtain any available statements made by the claimant, and look for inconsistencies. For example, did the claimant incorrectly identify your car, the date, or the location?
Work with Legal Counsel
This is where working with an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney adds real value.
A skilled attorney can:
- Analyze the claim thoroughly
- Identify any signs of exaggeration, misrepresentation, or fraud
- Interface with your insurer and defend you in communications
- Negotiate on your behalf, ensuring the investigation is fair
- If necessary, prepare litigation to defend your interests
Having legal counsel helps protect your rights and puts you in the strongest position to dispute the claim effectively.
Challenge Liability or Cause
If you are named as at fault, take steps to challenge the claim’s assumptions. Was your vehicle really involved? Was the claimant’s version accurate? Was the timing or damage consistent with your vehicle’s recorded status?
Questions like these matter. In Virginia, proving that you were not the responsible party can protect you from rating increases, points, and liability.
Stay Alert for Bad Faith or Fraud
Sometimes the problem is more than a misfiled claim. Your case could involve fraud. Virginia has strong statutes addressing insurance fraud and false claims. Insurers must report knowledge of potential fraud to state authorities, which can launch investigations into the case.
If you are being drawn into a fraudulent scheme, your lawyer may help coordinate with law enforcement and your insurance company.
Why Experienced Legal Counsel Matters in Virginia
It’s not enough to simply deny the claim. Insurers are experienced, and they may assume your silence means you are acquiescing.
Having an experienced attorney on your side means:
- Strategic guidance through every correspondence and documentation
- Protection from poorly worded statements or admissions that could hurt your case
- Ability to present your side early, set the record straight, and mitigate damage to your record and insurance premiums
- Advocacy if the insurer decides to seek recovery from you or increases your rates improperly
Given Virginia’s regulatory scheme for auto insurance and fraud, an attorney helps ensure your rights and protections under state law are fully enforced.
Preventing Future Issues & Staying Prepared
While you may not be able to prevent every erroneous claim, you can reduce your vulnerability by:
- Reviewing your insurance policy regularly and ensuring your vehicle, driver status, and coverage amounts are correct
- Reporting to your insurer any incident, even minor ones
- Keeping detailed records of your vehicle’s condition, service, and usage
- Monitoring your DMV and insurance records for filings you didn’t authorize
- Responding promptly when you receive any claim notice
These proactive steps help you avoid costly confusion and strengthen your defense if a false claim ever arises.
Contact the Manassas Personal Injury Lawyers at The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm for Help Today
Facing a false or questionable claim is stressful. In Virginia, you don’t have to navigate it alone. The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm is here to help.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Our Manassas personal injury attorneys will review the claim, gather your story and evidence, and build a strong defense that clears your name and safeguards your future.
The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm Manassas
9208 Lee Ave, First Floor, Manassas, VA, 20110
(571) 229-1800
Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Manassas
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 38.7523907,-77.5566859
The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm Fairfax
4000 Legato Rd #1100, Fairfax, VA, 22033
(571) 200-5424
Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Fairfax
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 38.8657713,-77.3652474
