Corporations Hire Private Investigators to Follow YOU After You Get Hurt On the Job
a “nurse case manager” to attend your appointments and speak with the doctor and the staff outside of your or your lawyer’s presence, as well as obtain information directly from you. They do background searches on you to see if you have a criminal or civil record. Obviously they will check to see if you ever filed a workers’ compensation, personal injury or other claim before. This is sometimes called “indexing,” the insurance companies share information regarding prior claims, care, payments and litigation. The insurance company’s agents or attorneys will also do social media and Internet searches on you and your family members. They also can hire private investigators to follow you and your family around and take video recordings of your activities, even when you are inside your home.
In one case handled by Virginia workplace injury lawyer Doug Landau, of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., the insurance company secret agent used a video camera on a 2-story telescoping pole to film an injured worker’s activities inside the man;s own apartment. Since the camera was out on the street, the judge ruled that the film would be admitted into evidence, since the filming was done “in a public place.” With all these resources at the disposal of the insurance company, it is hard to believe that injured workers can ever win their workers compensation claims in Virginia or the District of Columbia.
The invasions of privacy is also disturbing to many of Landau’s clients, as the insurance company gains access to pre-accident medical records and personnel files. What can injured workers do ? If they have sustained an injury that will take a while to heal, then securing experienced legal counsel is a good step to take. A lawyer who regularly tries workers comp claims will be able to anticipate illegal “medical management’ by insurance company “nurses,” and can help navigate the complex process. If you or someone you know or care for has been injured as the result of an on the job accident or car, truck, bicycle or motorcycle crash at work, and there are questions about what laws apply, e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once.