Private Investigators Hired After Car Accidents
Yes, in some cases, insurance companies hire a private investigator to follow or “spy” on an injured claimant after a car accident. They do this to obtain evidence that the injured victim can perform acts that the victim says he or she can’t perform in an effort to diminish the claim for compensation. In other words, the insurance company wants to catch you doing things to prove that you are not honest. “Private eyes” have phones with amazing video clarity so the investigators can easily film you without your knowledge. If a photo is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth ten thousand words.
There are limitations, however, on an insurance company’s ability to “spy” on a personal injury claimant. We’ll discuss those limitations a little later in this article.
Insurance Company Spying After a Car Accident: A Real-Life Example
In one recent case, a client called our office complaining that a private investigator was following him. After speaking with our client, we determined that the insurance company hired the private investigator to get our client on video. In addition to watching our client at home, the private investigator followed him to our office to meet with his attorney.
In our opinion, watching a client during a meeting with an attorney crosses the line. When clients visit their attorney’s office, they expect privacy and confidentiality as they discuss legal and confidential matters. Attorney Gene Riddle took matters into his own hands, confronting the private investigator at a stoplight and then calling law enforcement, who intercepted the private investigator at our office. The insurance company pulled the private investigator off this case.
Can the Insurance Company Legally “Spy” on a Claimant?
Yes, but the insurance company has to “spy” on you under lawful means and not violate your privileged and protected rights. In the past, our clients have asked us, “Is the insurance company allowed to follow and watch me?” This is a valid concern that many personal injury claimants have. Not only have they sustained serious injuries, but now they have to worry about the insurance company watching and analyzing their every move.
Public vs. Private Spaces
An insurance company can hire a private investigator to follow you if you are in public. However, legal issues can arise if the private investigator follows or spies on you in a place where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The line between what constitutes a public and private space can get murky. For instance, it is likely a violation of privacy to spy on someone when they are in their home. However, a private investigator can watch you while you are taking out the garbage or mowing the grass. Essentially, this means that as long as you are in a public space, such as a sidewalk, a private investigator can observe you. In places where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, though, like your home or attorney’s office, it could be illegal for a private investigator to watch you.
In North Carolina, the legal standard for surveillance is whether the person being observed has a “reasonable expectation of privacy.” North Carolina courts have recognized this standard in evaluating privacy rights. This means that while an investigator can film you in public places, like walking down a sidewalk or in a parking lot, they cannot legally spy on you in areas where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as inside your home, your attorney’s office, or a private medical facility. Understanding these boundaries under North Carolina law can help you protect your rights if you believe an insurance company has overstepped legal limits in their surveillance activities.
North Carolina Legal Protections
North Carolina is a “one-party consent” state under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-287 investigators can record conversations they’re part of, but cannot legally record conversations between you and others without consent (Class H felony). You have a “reasonable expectation of privacy” in your home and attorney’s office; investigators cannot legally film you there. North Carolina attorneys are bound by Rule 1.6 of the State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct to keep all client information confidential. If an insurance investigator follows you to your attorney’s office or attempts surveillance there, Riddle & Riddle can file complaints with the North Carolina State Bar and pursue legal action.
How Can I Protect My Case if the Insurance Company Spies on Me?
You can protect your case by staying aware that insurance companies routinely conduct surveillance on claimants to find evidence that diminishes their claims. Because the insurer’s main priority is to pay as little as possible for your injuries, insurance companies are notorious for spying on clients even though many claimants find this extremely unjust – understanding this tactic is the first step toward protecting yourself.
In order to protect your legal rights and avoid weakening your claim:
- Be smart and vigilant and don’t do things that the doctors say you can’t or shouldn’t do
- Be cautious about what you place on social media because this can give investigators and insurance companies unnecessary information about you
Most importantly, if you believe that the insurance company hired a private investigator to follow you around after a car accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Riddle & Riddle.
While it might be legal for insurance companies to spy on you in public, there are certain places where privacy is expected. Our firm has dealt extensively with insurance companies spying on clients and we will happily help you navigate through this stressful process.
For a FREE and no-obligation consultation, please call (855) 652-2049 or complete the fast and easy form below.
Will the Insurance Company ‘Spy’ on Me After My Car Accident?
Clients often ask us how likely it is that the insurance company will spy on them after they file their claim.
This is often determined on a case-by-case basis.
Insurance companies hire private investigators to obtain video footage of clients who’ve suffered the most serious injuries even when liability is clear. With the rise of social media, insurance companies have increasingly started spying on personal injury claimants online.
Five Types of Surveillance Tactics Used by Insurance Companies
Insurance investigators use five main surveillance methods:
Fixed Surveillance – Investigator sits in a parked vehicle outside your home or workplace, filming movements using high-quality cameras in three-day blocks.
- Mobile Surveillance – Investigator follows you by vehicle or on foot. A video of you carrying groceries can be used to claim you’re not as injured as you claim.
- Electronic Surveillance – GPS trackers, high-range video cameras, and audio recording devices gather evidence remotely.
- Social Media Monitoring – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok photos are reviewed. For example, a birthday party photo can be used against you in settlement negotiations.
- Covert Interviews – Investigators pose as friends online or interview neighbors without disclosing that they work for the insurance company.
Insurance Companies and Social Media
Insurance defense firms have been known to search through claimants’ Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platform posts. The insurance company goes to these sites to gather evidence that the claimant is not as seriously injured as he or she claims to be. For these reasons, it is extremely important that you do not post anything related to your injuries and that you also limit who can access your social media profiles. Your social media posts can and will be used against you. In addition, the court may force you to disclose everything you posted about the accident and your injuries if you file suit.
When Would an Insurance Company Spy on Me After a Car Accident?
Insurance companies and their attorneys are more likely to hire investigators to spy on car accident victims when the injuries are severe — and the insurance company may have to pay a lot of money on the claim. The following list includes the types of cases where we have found insurance companies more likely to spy on you:
- Death cases
- Loss of limbs
- Paralyzed arms or legs
- Brain or spinal injuries
- Multiple surgeries
- Permanent injuries
- Extended medical leave with thousands of dollars in lost wages.
The insurance companies usually hire private investigators on cases that could cost the company a lot of money. So, if your injury is serious, you should probably call an attorney soon after your accident.
Protecting Your Online Privacy and Legal Rights
Recently, Riddle & Riddle has seen insurance companies and defense attorneys use social media posts to try to devalue personal injury claims and wrongful death cases. If you have recently suffered an injury from an auto accident or work accident, review the tips below to help prevent insurance companies from using your social media posts against you.
- Be extremely careful when posting anything on social media after an accident. We recommend that clients refrain from posting any pictures or videos on social media while your claim is active. We don’t want to give the insurance company any ammunition to use against you. Once the suit is filed the court will compel you to provide all of this to the other side.
- If you continue to use social media, make sure to use the strictest privacy settings available. By limiting who can access your social media profiles, you can reduce the insurance company or private investigator’s access to your information and content.
- Add friends and followers carefully. Don’t accept just any friend or follower request. Make sure you actually know the person trying to follow you. Insurance companies may try to gain access to your accounts by trying to follow you. A private investigator can also friend you and obtain access to information to be used against you later.
- Be mindful of sharable content. Limit who can tag you in a post. Finding posts of you that others have shared is another way the insurance companies can gather evidence against you.
- Follow your attorney’s advice. Even though social media is one of the primary ways we all connect with others, it is important to limit your activity on these sites during a personal injury claim. Posts before or after your accident can drastically impact your claim. By following your attorney’s advice, you can limit how much the insurance companies can use against you.
If you’ve filed an injury claim, protect your case. Do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media.
Gene Riddle
Founder & Managing Partner
Is the Insurance Company ‘Spying’ on You After Your Car Accident?
Yes, it’s possible the insurance company is watching you – insurers sometimes follow claimants or try to obtain information that may jeopardize their claim. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and believe this is happening to you, please call (855) 652-2049 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Riddle & Riddle.
Our North Carolina car accident attorneys have more than 171 years of combined legal experience, and we know how to handle the insurance companies. We’ve assisted many clients who have been followed by insurance companies, and we are dedicated to protecting our clients’ legal rights.
Riddle & Riddle got me all the available money from the insurance companies.
David Howard, Riddle & Riddle client
What Riddle & Riddle Clients Should Know
- Surveillance is triggered by claim value, not validity. Serious injuries with substantial payouts attract investigators. According to DataInsights Market, the global insurance claims investigations industry is valued at $3.549 billion and growing at 6.5% annually, indicating significant investment in surveillance as claims increase in value.
- You cannot prevent surveillance by staying quiet. Investigators will follow you and interview neighbors regardless.
- A single video clip damages your case. A 10-second clip of you lifting groceries ignores the pain and recovery time involved.
- Do not engage with investigators. Note their presence and contact Riddle & Riddle immediately.
- Your attorney can fight back. If surveillance violates your privacy, we can file Bar complaints and pursue sanctions. Motor vehicle insurance fraud reports in New York increased 80% from 2020 to 2025 (from 24,238 to 43,811 incidents, per NY Department of Financial Services data), demonstrating how aggressively insurers are deploying investigators, and why you need legal protection.
- You have enforceable North Carolina protections. Contact Riddle & Riddle immediately if you believe you’re being surveilled.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer from Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in North Carolina today. We have twelve convenient locations in North Carolina, including Greenville, Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Kinston, Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem & Garner.
