News: 2020 Press Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — David Lee Williams Jr., 27, self-surrendered today at the Kern County Superior Court after being charged with two counts of felony insurance fraud and one misdemeanor count of filing a false police report for allegedly falsifying an insurance claim in order to receive an undeserved payout from Farmers Insurance.
An investigation by the Department of Insurance revealed Williams filed a claim with Farmers Insurance on April 1, 2019, and claimed he was traveling north on Highway 99 in Bakersfield when his vehicle was struck by another unknown vehicle at a high rate of speed. Williams and two of his passengers sought medical treatment for injuries they sustained.
Williams later filed an accident report with the California Highway Patrol and told Farmers Insurance he was traveling at 55 miles per hour in the fast lane when he noticed two cars racing behind him. Williams stated he signaled to merge to the right but his vehicle was struck causing him to swerve to the right.
In June 2019, Farmers Insurance hired an accident reconstructionist who reviewed the accident report filed by Williams along with photographs taken of Williams’ vehicle by Farmers Insurance. The accident reconstructionist determined the damage to Williams’ vehicle was not consistent with an impact from another vehicle at a high rate of speed and was not consistent with a rear-end collision.
Williams is scheduled to return to court on October 7, 2020. This case is being prosecuted by Kern County District Attorney’s Office Deputy District Attorney Sebastien Bauge.
# # #
The California Department of Insurance, established in 1868, is the largest consumer protection agency in California. Insurers collect $310 billion in premiums annually in California. Since 2011 the California Department of Insurance received more than 1,000,000 calls from consumers and helped recover over $469 million in claims and premiums. Please visit the Department of Insurance website at www.insurance.ca.gov. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
Source: California Department of Insurance.
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2020/release083-2020.cfm
California Department of Insurance issued the above Press Release on September 2, 2020.