When you have been hurt on the job and can’t work, you have a right to seek disability benefits under the New York workers’ compensation laws. Your employer and the workers’ compensation insurance company, however, have a vested interest in paying as little as possible to resolve your claim. With that objective, the insurer may hire a private investigator to follow you around, to film you during the course of your day, and to even question you about your activities. It’s not uncommon for these investigators to attempt to bully you or intimidate you, hoping to get you to say or do something that might compromise your claim.
Consider a case that we successfully handled a few years ago. We represented a woman who worked as a maid. When she was hurt on the job, she filed for workers’ compensation benefits. The insurance company sent an investigator to secretly film her. He got footage of her going into the same house (not hers) a number of days in a row, and he assumed that she was working there as a maid. He allegedly asked her questions about what she was doing. He then filed a report, documenting what he thought was evidence that she was working and engaging in workers’ compensation fraud.
We were able to show at trial that the home our client was going to was that of a friend and that she was paying a purely social visit. We were also able to demonstrate that, because our client’s use and understanding of English was limited, she could not have made the statements attributed to her.
Be aware that you could be the victim of harassment or bullying by an insurance company investigator. Always tell the truth and never try to do anything that hasn’t been cleared by your doctor. If you have been questioned by an investigator, immediately advise your attorney. As we demonstrated, you can win against a bully investigator.
Dealing with an Aggressive Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company Investigator
Experienced NYC | Brooklyn | Bronx | Queens Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
At Pyrros & Serres LLP, we handle all matters related to workers’ compensation and Social Security disability claims for people in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and across the greater New York City metropolitan area. Because of our reputation for effective advocacy, many of our new clients come to us as referrals from clients and other lawyers.
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Pyrros & Serres LLP
Queens | NYC | Brooklyn | Bronx Workers’ Compensation Attorneys