Insurance Surveillance: What To Do

If you spot an insurance surveillance vehicle, it's likely that you've filed a claim for disability or have been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver. In these cases, the insurance company may hire a private investigator to spy on you as part of their investigation. They are looking for evidence that your injuries are not as serious as you claim, which they can use to deny your claim or reduce your settlement.

Surveillance can take many forms, including fixed surveillance (or stakeouts), social media monitoring, tracking via GPS, and interviews with people who know you. Surveillance usually occurs in 3-day stints during daylight hours and may happen more than once, especially if your benefit payments are high.

If you suspect that you are being watched, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. Firstly, be vigilant and aware of anything out of the ordinary, such as strangers in your neighbourhood or unfamiliar cars parked outside your home. Secondly, follow your doctor's advice and only carry out the activities they have approved. This will prevent investigators from taking photos or videos of you doing something you shouldn't be able to do. Thirdly, limit your social media activity and ask your friends and family to do the same. Investigators may try to gather information about you by checking your social media profiles or even sending you a friend request using a false account.

Understand common surveillance tactics

Insurance companies may use a variety of tactics to investigate and spy on you, especially if you've filed a claim. Here are some common surveillance tactics they employ:

• Stakeouts: Private investigators may monitor your activities by hiding out in a vehicle or using video cameras. They may switch vehicles and investigators to avoid detection.
• Tracking: Investigators may follow you around or use a GPS device to track your movements and activities.
• Electronic monitoring: Insurance adjusters and attorneys may search your social media accounts for posts, photos, or other information that can be used against you. They may also send you friend requests to monitor your accounts more closely.
• Interviews: Investigators may try to interview your family, friends, neighbours, or co-workers to gather information about your activities and injuries.
• Hidden cameras: Insurance companies may set up hidden cameras in public places, such as parking lots or hospitals, to catch you doing something that can be used against you in court.
• Expert witnesses: Insurers may recruit expert witnesses to testify against you in court and potentially lower the amount of money they have to pay out.
• Traffic camera footage: They may secure and edit traffic camera footage to use as evidence.
• Background checks: Conducting a background check to look for previous offences is another way insurance companies may try to discredit your claim.

It's important to note that insurance companies are required by law to respect your right to privacy when conducting investigations. They must obtain legal authorisation before entering private property or using certain surveillance techniques.

Follow your doctor's advice

If you spot an insurance surveillance vehicle, it's important to understand why they are spying on you and the tactics they may use. They are likely looking for evidence that could be used to deny your claim or force you to accept a lower settlement. To protect yourself, you should follow your doctor's advice and instructions.

Doctors are highly educated and trained professionals who provide critical treatment for their patients. It is important to follow their instructions to avoid complications and improve long-term outcomes. For example, if you have a possible brain injury, even minor head trauma can pose fatal risks if left untreated. By following your doctor's advice, you can also help to document your health, recovery, and treatment plan, which can be used to support your injury claim.

Additionally, following your doctor's orders can help fight insurance company tactics. Insurance companies may argue that your injuries were not serious or caused by the accident if you do not seek immediate treatment or follow-up consistently. By listening to your doctor and staying consistent with your treatment, you can recover from your injuries and strengthen your claim.

• Take your prescription medications as directed and don't stop taking them just because your symptoms have improved.
• Attend all follow-up visits as scheduled. Your doctor may need to monitor your condition or adjust your treatment plan.
• Follow your doctor's recommendations for lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment, be sure to discuss them with your doctor.
• Seek a second opinion if you are unsure about your doctor's advice.

Limit your social media presence

If you are under surveillance by an insurance company, it is important to limit your social media presence as much as possible. This is because insurance companies can and will use your social media activity against you. They will be looking for any posts, photos, or other information that they can use as evidence to deny your claim or force you to accept a lower settlement.

• Stay off social media if possible. The best way to avoid any potential issues is to refrain from using social media platforms while your insurance claim is being resolved. This eliminates the risk of sharing anything that could be used against you.
• Limit your posts if you can't stay off social media completely. Avoid discussing your personal injury, accident, or any details related to your insurance claim. Do not post pictures or videos that could be misconstrued or taken out of context.
• Be cautious about accepting friend requests or new followers. Do not accept requests from people you don't know. The insurance adjuster, detective, or private investigator may try to connect with you to monitor your activity more closely.
• Adjust your privacy settings to restrict access to your content. Review and update the privacy settings on all your social media accounts. Limit who can see your posts and personal information to only people you know and trust.
• Ask friends and family to refrain from posting about you. Request that your close contacts do not tag you in posts, share pictures of you, or discuss you on their social media profiles. Their accounts may also be monitored by the insurance company.
• Be mindful of location services. When adjusting your privacy settings, turn off location sharing on your devices. This will prevent you from accidentally revealing your whereabouts or places you frequent.
• Be vigilant about photo sharing. Think twice before posting any photos online, especially those that include your loved ones or your home. Advertising your location and activities could make you a target for cybercriminals or other malicious actors.

Ask friends and family to refrain from posting about you

If you believe you have spotted an insurance surveillance vehicle, it is important to take steps to protect yourself, especially if you are in the process of making a claim. Insurance companies are known to use surveillance tactics to find evidence that can be used to deny or minimize claims.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to ask your friends and family to refrain from posting about you on social media. This includes not talking about you, posting pictures of you, or tagging you in posts. Private investigators or insurance adjusters may search the social media accounts of your loved ones for damaging information about you. They are looking for any evidence of activities that you should not be engaging in, given your claimed injuries. For example, if you have claimed an injury that affects your mobility, but your friend posts a picture of you hiking, this could be used against you.

It is also important to note that insurance companies will search your own social media accounts for similar evidence. Therefore, it is advisable to stay off social media or, at the very least, limit your posts and only accept friend requests from people you know.

In addition to refraining from posting about you, it is worth informing your friends and family that they should be cautious about discussing your situation with others. Private investigators may try to interview your loved ones to gather information that could be used against you.

By taking these steps, you can help protect yourself from insurance surveillance and ensure that your claim is not weakened by the actions of those close to you.

Consult a lawyer

If you believe you are being surveilled by an insurance company, one of the best ways to protect yourself is to consult a lawyer. A lawyer will be able to advise you on your rights and what the insurance company or their private investigator can and cannot do. They can also give you additional tips on how to protect yourself and will fight for you so that you receive a fair settlement.

In the United States, it is legal for anyone to take photos or videos of you when you are in public, outside your home, or on another person's private property. However, you do not have to allow investigators into your home or onto your property. If you ask them to leave and they refuse, they are trespassing, and you can call the police.

Private investigators are also not allowed to force entry to a premises, seize your property, or access confidential government-held information. They are bound by state and Commonwealth laws surrounding privacy.

If you have been injured in a car accident, a lawyer will be able to advise you on what evidence you need to gather to prove liability. They can also advise you on what information you should and shouldn't share with the insurance company.

If you are being monitored, a lawyer can guide you on how to proceed, including whether you can file a lawsuit for invasion of privacy or take other legal action.

Frequently asked questions