Winter 2021 Volume 14, Number 4 | |||||
How to Avoid Challenges to Your Disability Claim If you file a disability claim with your insurance company and get the feeling you’re being followed, you might be right!
Insurance companies sometimes hire investigators to determine whether you’re telling the truth about an
injury you suffered. They understandably want to ensure they’re not paying any more claim money than necessary. Surveillance Tactics
It’s common for insurance companies to order surveillance on a claimant after they take a deposition to verify the substance of their incapacities. This is particularly common in cases where the injured person says
they can no longer perform normal day-to-day activities, such as bending, lifting or carrying. For instance, if a person claims a back injury prevents them from carrying heavy loads, but they are caught on camera carrying a heavy trash bag, it could be shown that the injuries weren’t as bad as claimed. How to Tell if You’re Being Surveilled
Look for strangers in your neighborhood, including someone sitting in an unfamiliar car or truck parked near your house. If you drive somewhere, they will likely follow you. To distract you, they might use two vehicles to follow you. One car might go straight while the other one is actually following you. You might encounter an investigator in public, including parks, gyms, restaurants or church. They will not go into your home or workplace though. How to Protect Your Claim:
Remember that disability insurance companies use surveillance as a tactic to investigate and deny claims. The evidence they collect also, can be used to intimidate you into dropping the claim. Most of the time, the video surveillance is useless because a single moment of footage does not establish whether a person really is seriously injured or not.
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How to Avoid Challenges to Your Disability Claim Planning for Care When You Need It Most |
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