Existing law defines certain acts as insurance fraud and makes a person who commits insurance fraud guilty of a category D felony. (NRS 686A.2815, 686A.291) Section 1 of this bill revises the definition of “insurance fraud” to specifically include participating in, soliciting or orchestrating a motor vehicle crash for the purpose of presenting or causing to be presented a false or fraudulent insurance claim.
Section 2 of this bill increases the penalty for insurance fraud involving such a motor vehicle crash under certain circumstances. Section 2 also provides that a person who commits such insurance fraud is guilty of a category B felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 15 years and a possible fine of not more than $50,000 if: (1) the value of the insurance benefits sought or obtained is $10,000 or more; or (2) the insurance fraud results in bodily injury to a person other than the perpetrator. If the insurance fraud results in substantial bodily harm to or the death of any person, section 2 increases the term of imprisonment to a minimum term of not less than 5 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years, increases the possible fine to not more than $100,000 and requires the suspension or revocation of the driver's license of the person for not less than 2 years.

Statutes affected:
BDR: 686A.2815, 686A.291