Surveillance is warranted when a claim shows objective red flags — activity inconsistent with the reported injury, disputed disability status, or corroboration needed before a reserve or settlement decision. It works best when ordered with a specific question to answer, timed to documented activity, and paired with an activity report and verifiable timestamps so the footage is usable in the claim file or in court.

What red flags justify surveillance?

Surveillance is an investment, so it should answer a defined question rather than fish for something. The strongest triggers are objective inconsistencies in the file.

  • Reported physical limitations that conflict with observed activity or social media
  • Disputed extent of disability, especially before an IME or settlement
  • Claims with escalating reserves where verification changes the exposure
  • Prior claim history or associations that raise legitimate fraud indicators
  • Third-party liability where activity level is contested

What can surveillance actually prove?

Surveillance documents observable activity and capability. It does not diagnose, and it cannot manufacture inconsistency where none exists.

A well-run assignment produces clear, timestamped video tied to a written activity report. That record either corroborates the claim or documents a specific inconsistency an adjuster, IME physician, or trier of fact can evaluate on its own terms.

How do you commission surveillance so it holds up?

The value is in the record, not the hours. Poorly documented footage — no continuous timestamp, no chain of custody, no report tying activity to time — is easy to challenge and often useless.

  • Give the investigator the specific question the claim needs answered
  • Time the assignment to documented activity, not guesswork
  • Require high-resolution video with continuous, verifiable timestamps
  • Expect a written activity report that ties directly to the footage
  • Confirm chain of custody and secure delivery of the evidence

How Direct Insight approaches this. Every Direct Insight surveillance assignment is planned around the question the claim needs answered and documented with continuous 4K timestamps, a written activity report, and a documented chain of custody — so the footage speaks for itself in a claim file or a courtroom.

Frequently asked questions

Is workers’ compensation surveillance legal?

Yes. Investigators may document a claimant’s activity in public places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. Lawful surveillance never involves trespass, pretext into private spaces, or harassment.

How long does a surveillance assignment take?

It depends on the question. Many assignments run one to three days timed to documented activity; retained or high-exposure matters may be scheduled across a longer window. The goal is a usable record, not billable hours.

What deliverables should I expect?

Clear, high-resolution video with continuous timestamps, a written activity report tied to the footage, and secure delivery through an encrypted portal with documented chain of custody.