Woman Tripped Up By Her Pattern Of Slip And Fall Claims

An Antioch woman has been charged in Contra Costa County with workers’ compensation insurance fraud after authorities said she showed a pattern of slipping and falling while working for different employers.

Maria Mendoza, 52, has been charged with four counts of trying to rip off the employers, as well as two counts of auto insurance fraud, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office spokesman Scott Alonso said.

Authorities arrested her on Feb. 28. She remained in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility on Monday, in lieu of $330,000. She was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon.

The investigation into Mendoza started in October 2017 after reports she faked a fall while working at an Olive Garden in Pittsburg, Alonso said.

Mendoza’s history of insurance claims revealed a pattern of short employment stints followed by claims against an employer, he said. According to authorities, Mendoza claimed to fall several times while working for different companies.