Vehicle Arson and Insurance Fraud

Each year, hundreds and sometimes thousands of vehicles are burned in the United States alone. Vehicle arson is sometimes used as a sign of a protest in riots and rallies. In more personal circumstances, an individual may burn a person’s car as a threat, for revenge, or to commit murder. Burglars who are concerned about leaving evidence behind may decide to torch the building or vehicle that they robbed or stole. These are all common motives behind car arson. With the downturn in the economy, arson has risen across the country for another purpose: to commit insurance fraud.

Many individuals buy expensive vehicles at a loan rate that they can barely afford to pay. When the economy experiences a downturn, some can no longer make their monthly payments. Nervous about the prospect of repossession, a debtor may decide to commit arson and collect on the insurance, hoping to get rid of the car and the debt problem. And when gas prices spike, arson is common among SUV owners. Drivers are no longer willing to pay the cost of owning a vehicle with low gas mileage and may be unable to sell the vehicle, so arson is seen as an advantageous way to solve the problem.

Under Florida law, vehicle arson is a felony offense. For even a first offense, an individual who commits arson could be penalized with up to 5 years in prison and a maximum $5,000 fine. Police and fire investigators have become skilled at determining whether a fire was caused by accident or whether it was caused intentionally as an act of arson. When a vehicle fire is suspected to be arson, the owner will typically be investigated for insurance fraud as well. What seemed like a quick fix can turn into an arrest for multiple criminal offenses and possibly many years in prison.

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If you have been arrested for arson or are suspected of insurance fraud, don’t hesitate to contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. The consequences of an arson or fraud conviction will affect you personally and professionally for many years to come. For sound legal advice and assistance with your criminal defense, contact the experienced West Palm Beach criminal lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.C. today at 561-353-2800.