If you feel like your insurance company is watching you, our Longwood Long Term Disability lawyer can explain why you could be under surveillance.
A frequent issue raised in our office is the surveillance conducted by insurance companies after individuals file a Long Term Disability claim. You might not be aware of the possibility of surveillance. However, as we clarify in our letter to every new client, your insurance company may begin surveillance while collecting evidence for your claim assessment. While it is not anything you should be concerned about, we know you may have questions, so we are here to provide answers.
Why Do Insurance Companies Perform Surveillance?
The insurance company wants to protect itself against insurance fraud by trying to prove that a claimant is not actually injured or ill and can work. Insurance fraud not only hurts the insurance company, but it can also hurt consumers with higher premiums. Insurance fraud is estimated to cost Americans over $308 billion annually.
For the insurance company, it is strictly a business decision, not personal. However, it may seem personal when you are followed as you perform your daily tasks. And in our experience, insurance companies will take any measures they can to avoid paying out benefits.
Attorney Herbert M. Hill explains surveillance by insurance companies and why it should not be a significant concern in most cases.
What Surveillance Can Insurance Companies Perform?
The most common type of surveillance an insurance company will collect is video surveillance. Having a video proving or disproving an injury is valuable evidence when the company determines approval or denial of a claim. 
Recently, drones have been spotted being used to gather video evidence. Being followed by a flying electronic device can be unnerving and potentially invasive, so contact our office if you have any concerns about the legality of the surveillance.
Is Surveillance Legal?
For the most part, surveillance performed by insurance companies is legal. However, these companies need to abide by guidelines so as not to interfere in a claimant’s life or cause an invasion of privacy. If you are in a public place, the insurance company can surveil you, but if they follow you inside your home, private office, locker room, or any place you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, that is illegal.
Insurance companies are also not allowed to take audio recordings without your consent. If you feel you have been surveilled illegally, contact our Longwood Long Term Disability lawyers to ensure your rights are protected.
What Effect Does Surveillance Have On Your Long Term Disability Claim?
We receive feedback from clients who express concerns about video surveillance. They worry that the insurance company might have captured videos of them bending over to tend to their garden or engaging in activities that could suggest they are not as injured as they claim. Of course, there is no video of how that weed-picking put you in bed for a week afterward.
Although this type of evidence-gathering may feel invasive and we have seen claims denied due to surveillance, doctors know that these videos are just snapshots of a brief period, and they should not be used as an automatic reason to deny your benefits. Our best advice is to live your life as you usually would and let our Longwood Long Term Disability lawyer handle your claim.
Herbert M. Hill, P.A. Is Here For You
If you have a question about your Long Term Disability claim or any surveillance you may have noticed, we can help. Our dedicated team is focused solely on Long Term Disability, and we strive to help our clients get the benefits they need. Please contact us to discuss your case.