I’m Making a Claim for Personal Injuries After an Accident: Should I Assume I’m Under Surveillance?

Unfortunately, auto accidents happen in Florida all the time. Fortunately, a good number of them leave the vehicle’s occupants unharmed. However, there are circumstances where the driver or passengers involved suffer serious injuries. In the best-case scenario, the person, through medical treatment, can fully recover. In the worst-case scenario, someone died. Then we have everyone in between those two extremes.

So, to answer the question for those between no injuries and death, you should assume that you are under surveillance. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are under constant surveillance, but you should assume that the insurance company will hire an investigator to watch you throughout a normal day. They will be looking to see if you really have the injuries that you claim to have.

Of course, the more serious the injury being claimed, the more money demanded for those injuries, the more likely you will be under surveillance. Insurance companies did not become the financial behemoths they are by easily paying out on every demand made. They make the claims process difficult and are tighter than Scrooge with their money.

When they are presented with a high demand, it is more likely that they will investigate the claimant. They will look for you performing activities that are inconsistent with the injuries claimed. For example, if you say that you cannot play sports due to an ankle injury, they will be looking for you running, jumping, exercising, etc. Anything that will show that your ankle is fine or, at least, not as bad as you claim. If you claim a bad back, they will look for you lifting items, twisting, etc. Anything that shows you able to perform those tasks easily and without discomfort.

So, what does this mean for your case? It doesn’t mean to live like a hermit and to hide from investigators. It means to live your life but to not push yourself past your limits. If it hurts to lift that box or perform that activity, shy away from doing it. Not only because you could exacerbate an injury but because, on film, it won’t capture your discomfort, only your ability to perform the task.

Also, it means to be honest with yourself, your lawyer, and your doctor. It is our job to get you the maximum recovery for which you are entitled. If you aren’t honest with us, it will ultimately come back to hurt your case more than it would have had you just been upfront about the extent of the injuries.