INSURANCE FRAUD: Boca Raton Man Claimed To Be In Uber Crash, But Wasn’t In Car
Bocanewsnow.com, April 29, 2022
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Victor Van Vickery, according to Florida investigators, is an insurance fraudster — and two local law firms may have helped. The Boca Raton man was arrested earlier this week following an investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services.
According to information obtained by BocaNewsNow.com, Vickery ordered an Uber for his girlfriend on May 15th, 2019. That Uber ended up in a crash near the intersection of St. Andrews Blvd. and Palmetto Park Road. Police responded and documented the people involved.
But when opportunistic law firms obtained the crash information, they reached out to Victor Van Vickery to offer representation, apparently believing he was in the crash since he ordered the Uber. Vickery signed with the Billera Law Firm firm in Boca Raton. That firm initiated a claim against Uber, stating that Vickery sustained injuries in the crash — even though Vickey was not in the crash. Vickery even sought medical treatment at “The Bougie Center For Chiropractic and Alternative Medicine” in Boca Raton. Billera Law submitted medical bills to Vickery’s own insurance company — Progressive.
Progressive Insurance apparently started asking questions. The Billera Law Firm ceased its representation of Vickery. Vickery then hired attorney Marco Quesada of the Quesada law firm in Miami. Quesada, according to a criminal complaint, continued claims against Uber and Progressive.
With police reports stating that Vickery was not involved in the crash, State of Florida insurance investigators opened a file. Earlier this week, these findings led to Vickery’s arrest:
“Victor Vickery was not in the vehicle at the time of the motor vehicle crash with the intent to defraud Progressive Insurance for monetary gain,” “Victor Vickery filed a claim to Progressive Insurance and obtained treatments at the Bougie Center for Chiropractic and Alternative Medicine for injuries he stated were sustained in the accident,” and “Victor Vickery made a material misrepresentation in support of his claim when he made false statements to Progressive Insurance.”
Victor Van Vickery was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail for “Insurance Fraud” and later released on $3,000 bond. It is unclear if attorneys involved with the alleged fraud will face Florida Bar sanctions or other disciplinary action if the accusations of fraud are determined to be true.
News article: https://bocanewsnow.com/2022/04/29/insurance-fraud-boca-raton-man-claimed-to-be-in-uber-crash-but-wasnt-in-car/