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Workers’ Comp · Insurance Fraud · Defensible Evidence
Verify the claim with evidence, not assumptions
Surveillance and investigation that documents what a claimant can actually do — clear, time-stamped, and built for the insurers, employers and defense counsel who have to make a decision on the file.
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What we investigate
A questionable claim rarely turns on one fact — it turns on what the record shows over time. We build that record lawfully, with methods that hold up when the file moves from the adjuster’s desk to a hearing.
Claimant surveillance
Mobile and stationary surveillance that documents a claimant’s daily activity, movement and physical capability over the hours and days that matter to the file.
Activity-level verification
Objective observation of what a claimant lifts, carries, bends, drives or performs — measured against the restrictions on record rather than a description.
Social media & digital footprint
Lawful review of publicly available online activity to corroborate or contradict claimed limitations, captured and preserved for the file.
Alive-and-well / location checks
Discreet confirmation that a claimant is where they say they are and living as described — useful when contact goes quiet or residency is in question.
Witness & background canvassing
Neighborhood and workplace canvassing plus background research to surface witnesses, employment, and facts the claim file does not show.
Sub-rosa video documentation
Covert, defensible sub-rosa video that stands as an exhibit — clearly showing activity, with the context and metadata that make it usable.
Built for the claim file
Evidence an adjuster and counsel can actually use
Every case is worked by licensed Arizona investigators who understand that surveillance is only worth what it can prove later. We document activity as it happens and produce defensible, time-stamped video — not a highlight reel, but a continuous, honest record of what was observed.
That footage arrives paired with a detailed activity report: a chronological log of observations, locations, and movements written in plain, objective language an adjuster can drop into the file and counsel can rely on. We keep our methods discreet and legally sound, so nothing about how the evidence was gathered becomes the reason it gets excluded.
Our deliverables are built for the people who receive them — claims adjusters, employers, TPAs and defense counsel — and we routinely support Special Investigations Units on suspected-fraud files, from an initial activity check through full sub-rosa documentation. Whether a claim is legitimate or not, you get a clear factual answer to act on.
Common questions
What claims professionals ask first
Is claimant surveillance legal?
Yes. Surveillance conducted in public places, where a person has no reasonable expectation of privacy, is lawful — and our licensed investigators work within Arizona law throughout. We do not trespass, misrepresent ourselves into private spaces, or gather anything in a way that would compromise the file. Lawful method is what keeps the evidence usable.
What deliverables do adjusters get?
A time-stamped video record of the surveillance paired with a written activity report — a chronological log of observations, locations, movements and relevant context. It is prepared in objective language so it can go straight into the claim file and be understood without further explanation.
Can findings be used in a hearing?
They are prepared with that in mind. Our video and reports are documented to serve as evidence, and our investigators can speak to what they observed. Whether specific material is admitted is ultimately for the tribunal and counsel to determine, so we build every case to a defensible standard from the first hour.
How is this priced?
Investigations are generally billed hourly, which lets you scope the effort to the file — from a short activity check to multi-day surveillance. We agree the scope and estimated hours with you up front, so there are no surprises when the report and footage come back.
Assignment workflow
How a workers’ comp surveillance assignment runs
Good claimant surveillance is planned before anyone sits in a vehicle. Most wasted surveillance hours trace back to thin preparation: the wrong address, the wrong days, or no clear idea of which restriction the file needs tested.
- File review. We read the referral against the documented injury, work status, and current restrictions, and agree on the specific question the surveillance should answer.
- Pre-surveillance research. Address confirmation, vehicles, household, and a lawful review of public online activity, so field time is not spent confirming basics.
- Scheduling strategy. Days are chosen around what the file suggests: reported side work, recreational activity, or periods between medical appointments, rather than picked at random.
- Field operation. Mobile and stationary coverage from public vantage points, with continuous recording of relevant activity and a running log of times and locations.
- Interim updates. The adjuster or counsel hears about meaningful developments during the assignment, so the scope can be extended, redirected, or stopped.
- Report and video delivery. A chronological report tied to the footage, written in objective terms and ready for the claim file.
For the field methods behind this process, see our article on workers’ comp fraud surveillance that holds up.
Referral checklist
What to include when you refer a claim
The more of the file we see at intake, the more precisely we can plan the hours. Send what you can lawfully share; we treat all claim information as confidential.
- Claimant name, last known address, and any alternate addresses on file.
- A recent photograph, or enough description to make a confident identification in the field.
- Known vehicles, including plate numbers where available.
- Date and mechanism of injury, and the body part involved.
- Current work restrictions and treating-provider notes that state them.
- Upcoming medical appointments, IMEs, depositions, or hearing dates.
- Tips or allegations that prompted the referral, and how they were received.
- Your budget ceiling and the decision point the evidence needs to reach.
Defensibility
What separates usable surveillance from footage that gets challenged
Surveillance is often challenged on method rather than content. Opposing counsel will look for gaps, missing context, misidentification, or conduct by the investigator that crossed a line. We build each day of coverage to withstand that review.
Positive identification
The claimant is clearly identified on video before relevant activity is attributed to them, so there is no question of the wrong person being filmed.
Continuity over clips
Recording captures the lead-up and aftermath of an activity, not just the moment of exertion, and gaps in footage are explained in the report.
No inducement
Investigators do not stage situations, ask the claimant for help lifting something, or otherwise provoke activity. What is documented is what the claimant chose to do.
Lawful vantage points
Observation is limited to public places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. We do not enter private property or record through windows into homes.
Honest digital review
Online review covers publicly visible content only. We do not use fake profiles to gain access to private accounts, a practice that can undermine the evidence and raise ethical issues.
Our overview of sub-rosa surveillance for insurance defense goes further into how footage is presented and reviewed.
Arizona context
Working comp files in Arizona
Contested workers’ compensation matters in Arizona are generally heard through the Industrial Commission of Arizona, where evidence and investigator testimony may be considered. How surveillance is received depends on the tribunal, the facts, and counsel’s strategy.
Arizona’s climate shapes field planning. Summer heat pushes much outdoor activity into early morning and evening hours, so coverage windows are often set around when a claimant is realistically likely to be active. Sprawling suburbs and long commute corridors also mean mobile coverage frequently needs more than one vehicle to maintain a lawful, discreet follow.
Indicators such as a tip about side work, activity on public social media, or missed appointments can justify a closer look, but none of them prove fraud on their own. Surveillance is a way to test the question objectively. For region-specific detail, see workers’ compensation surveillance in Arizona.
This is general information, not legal advice. Evidentiary and procedural questions should be directed to defense counsel.
Further questions
More questions from adjusters and defense counsel
What happens if surveillance shows no activity?
You receive a report documenting what was and was not observed. A claimant who stays home or whose activity matches their restrictions is still a factual result, and it can support a decision to move the claim forward rather than keep disputing it.
How many days of surveillance does a file usually need?
It depends on the question and the claimant’s routine. Some files are answered by a short activity check; others need coverage spread across several days to show a pattern. We recommend a starting scope and adjust based on what the first day reveals.
Can investigators record inside gyms, stores, or workplaces?
Recording inside businesses open to the public raises practical and legal questions that depend on the location and its policies. We plan around those limits and discuss them with the client rather than assuming footage can be obtained anywhere the claimant goes.
Do you support SIU fraud referrals beyond surveillance?
Yes. Claimant background research, witness canvassing, and open-source research for insurance fraud can be combined with surveillance under one scope.
To discuss a specific file, request a confidential consultation or call 602-557-4438.
Put a questionable claim on solid ground
Send us the file — confidentially. We’ll tell you what surveillance can realistically establish, what it takes, and what it costs, before you commit a dollar.
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Workers’ compensation & insurance fraud investigations — surveillance · sub-rosa video · SIU support