Private Ambulance Driver Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term
for Falsely Reporting Pothole-Related Accident for Insurance Fraud
A private ambulance driver who falsely reported a traffic accident as being caused by a pothole in order to claim insurance money has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.
According to Yonhap News on June 22, Judge Uh Jaewon of the Ulsan District Court Criminal Division 1 sentenced a man in his 40s, identified as A, to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered him to complete 80 hours of community service. A was indicted for violating the Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud.
In February 2023, A was driving a company-owned ambulance on a highway in Ulsan when he crashed into the central divider due to failure to pay attention to the road ahead. Afterwards, A reported to Korea Expressway Corporation that the accident was caused by a pothole and received a total of about 20 million won from the insurance company for vehicle repair and other expenses.
The day after the accident, A returned to work as usual, but he forged documents to make it appear that his wages had been reduced due to hospitalization and fraudulently claimed insurance compensation for lost income. The head of the private ambulance company, who was aware that A had returned to work but still issued a certificate of leave of absence, was fined 2 million won.
The court stated, "The defendant has previously been punished for similar crimes, yet committed another offense. However, in determining the sentence, we considered the fact that he is remorseful and that the amount he personally gained was relatively small."
Meanwhile, a pothole is a phenomenon where the surface of an asphalt road becomes deeply indented. It occurs when rain or snow seeps into the road and repeatedly freezes and thaws. Calcium chloride, which is spread for de-icing in winter, can also cause asphalt corrosion. Potholes can lead not only to vehicle damage but also to serious injury accidents.
Pothole accidents refer to injuries caused by road damage, and claims for compensation are made against the agency or local government responsible for road maintenance. However, legal liability may vary depending on the degree of fault in the accident, and lawsuits may arise in such cases.
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