Bakersfield driver charged for alleged insurance fraud after an auto collision
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.
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Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
