All types of accidents occur while on the job. For instance, a construction worker may sustain an injury as a result of operating heavy machinery, while someone with a desk job may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. (If an injury occurred as a result of their job, employees can apply for workers’ compensation benefits.) A story posted on TulsaToday.com tells about an employee of a car dealership who was struck by a vehicle while on-the-job. He used that incident to claim undeserved workers’ compensation benefits.
The story states that the man was hit by a car driven by a co-worker. He filed for workers’ compensation benefits claiming that the accident injured his back, left leg, hip and tail bone.
This is where the story takes an interesting turn. Apparently, the young man skipped a doctor’s appointment and was videotaped while playing golf with no signs of injury at all. (I guess he wasn’t in such bad shape after all.) After viewing the videotape taken by an investigator, the man’s physical therapist and orthopedic doctor both confirmed that his level of physical activity was inconsistent with his injury claims. (Busted!)
The 20-year-old fraudster pleaded guilty to two felony counts of workers’ compensation fraud. He was offered to serve a five-year deferred sentence and will have to pay back more than $7,000 in restitution.
While this man probably incurred some physical problems from the on-the-job accident, he lied about the severity of his injuries in order to collect benefits he did not deserve. Workers’ compensation is supposed to provide protection for employees, not serve as a recreation fund for unscrupulous individuals who are out for a good time.
Source: Today’s ”Fraud of the Day” is based on an article titled, ”Guilty to Workers’ Comp Charges,” posted on TulsaToday.com on March 17, 2015.
A Tulsa County man pleaded guilty to two felony counts of workers’ compensation fraud after charges were brought by Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s Workers’ Compensation, Social Security and Insurance Fraud Unit.
Joseph Max Hutton, 20, a first-time offender, was offered to serve a five-year deferred sentence and is ordered to pay more than $7,000 in restitution.
