- October 19, 2025
After a car crash, many people in Michigan are surprised to learn that their insurance company might be watching them. Auto accident surveillance by insurance companies is a common practice designed to protect insurers’ financial interests. Adjusters often hire investigators to monitor claimants, hoping to find evidence that minimizes or disproves an injury claim.While this can feel unsettling, surveillance doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It simply reflects how far insurers go to limit what they pay. Working with an experienced attorney can help protect your privacy, uphold your rights, and ensure your claim is handled fairly.
If you were injured in a Michigan auto accident, contact a car accident lawyer near you for a free consultation to discuss your situation and options.
Key Takeaways: Insurance Company Surveillance in MI
- Insurance companies in Michigan routinely conduct surveillance on auto accident claimants to challenge injury claims and reduce settlement payouts
- Surveillance activities are generally legal as long as investigators don't trespass on private property or violate Michigan privacy laws
- Being watched doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. Insurers use surveillance as a standard tactic to protect their financial interests
- Inconsistencies between your claimed limitations and surveillance footage can seriously damage your case, even if taken out of context
- Understanding your rights and working with an experienced attorney helps you navigate surveillance while protecting your legitimate injury claim
What Is Auto Accident Surveillance?
Auto accident surveillance involves watching or recording a person’s activities after they file a claim for injury or damages. The goal is to find inconsistencies between medical reports and observed behavior, allowing insurers to challenge the validity of the claim.
Common Surveillance Methods Used by Insurance Companies
Investigators use several techniques to monitor claimants:
- Video and Photography: Investigators may record a person entering or leaving their home, attending appointments, or running errands.
- Social Media Monitoring: Posts, photos, and comments are reviewed to find signs of physical activity or travel inconsistent with claimed injuries.
- Vehicle Tracking: Some investigators may follow a claimant’s car to observe their movements.
- Interviews and Neighbor Inquiries: Investigators may ask neighbors or coworkers about a claimant’s routines.
When Insurance Companies Typically Initiate Surveillance
Surveillance often starts after a significant claim is filed, especially when medical bills or lost wages are involved. It may occur before a settlement negotiation, after an independent medical examination, or close to a court date.
Is It Legal for Insurance Companies to Conduct Surveillance in Michigan?
Surveillance is legal in Michigan when conducted within certain boundaries. However, there are strict rules governing what investigators can and cannot do.
Michigan Laws Governing Surveillance Activities
Under Michigan law, insurers may observe people in public spaces where there’s no expectation of privacy. This includes streets, parking lots, and other open areas. What matters most is whether surveillance crosses into harassment or invasion of privacy.
What Investigators Can Legally Do
- Observe and film activities in public places.
- Review publicly available social media content.
- Follow individuals in vehicles as long as they obey traffic laws.
What Crosses the Line into Illegal Surveillance
- Trespassing onto private property without permission.
- Filming through home windows or inside private spaces.
- Using electronic tracking devices without consent.
If investigators violate these limits, the footage may be excluded from legal proceedings, and the claimant could have grounds for a privacy claim.
Why Do Insurance Companies Surveil Auto Accident Victims?
Surveillance allows insurers to limit payouts and defend against exaggerated claims. Even legitimate claims may attract scrutiny because surveillance is a standard business practice.
Protecting Against Fraudulent Claims
Insurance companies argue that surveillance helps prevent fraud by exposing people who fake or exaggerate injuries. However, in practice, it often unfairly targets honest claimants.
Reducing Settlement Payouts
When footage shows someone performing an activity that appears inconsistent with their claimed injuries, insurers use it to reduce settlement offers. They may argue that the claimant’s recovery is better than reported or that the injuries were minor.
Gathering Evidence to Dispute Injury Severity
Insurers use surveillance footage as leverage during negotiations. Even a short clip showing a claimant carrying groceries or bending over might be presented as proof of full recovery, even if the activity caused pain afterward.
How Do You Know If You're Being Surveilled?
Insurance investigators rarely announce their presence. However, some signs may suggest that you’re being observed.
Warning Signs of Active Surveillance
Insurance investigators typically use discreet methods, but certain patterns can reveal their presence:
- Unfamiliar Vehicles Nearby: Repeatedly noticing the same car parked on your street, near your workplace, or outside a friend’s house may indicate surveillance. Investigators often use unmarked vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, or vans equipped with tinted windows and cameras.
- People Taking Photos or Filming: Someone lingering in public areas or appearing to use a camera or phone to record your movements could be collecting footage.
- Repeated Appearances by the Same Stranger: Seeing the same person in multiple locations over several days, like the grocery store, park, or gym, might suggest an investigator is following your routine.
- Unexpected Contacts or Calls: Sometimes, investigators pretend to be conducting surveys, verifying addresses, or checking on service appointments as a way to confirm your identity or location.
Where Surveillance Typically Occurs
Insurance companies target locations where people are likely to engage in everyday activities. Common surveillance sites include:
- Your Neighborhood: Investigators often park on public streets to monitor your comings and goings, hoping to record you performing physical tasks like yard work, carrying groceries, or walking the dog.
- Workplaces: If you’ve returned to work part-time or with restrictions, investigators may watch to see if you’re performing duties beyond your reported abilities.
- Public Areas: Grocery stores, restaurants, and parks are popular settings because investigators can easily blend in and record footage without attracting attention.
- Medical or Therapy Appointments: Insurers may follow you to see whether you attend scheduled visits and how you appear before and after appointments.
Duration of Surveillance Periods
Insurers may conduct surveillance over several days or in short bursts leading up to settlement negotiations or court hearings. The goal is to catch moments that appear inconsistent with your claim.
Digital and Online Monitoring
Physical surveillance is only part of the picture. Insurance companies frequently monitor digital behavior, too:
- Social Media Activity: Posts, photos, or videos shared online may be used as evidence, even if taken out of context. A single smiling photo or vacation update can be twisted to suggest your injuries aren’t serious.
- Location Tags and Check-Ins: Tagging locations or events makes it easy for insurers to track your movements and verify inconsistencies with your medical restrictions.
- Public Comments: Replies, shares, or mentions about your accident might be saved and analyzed to question your credibility.
What Should You Do If You Suspect You're Being Watched?
Knowing that someone might be observing you can feel intrusive, but overreacting could harm your claim. Staying calm and consistent is key.
Continuing Your Normal Activities
Live your life as you normally would while following your doctor’s restrictions. Stopping daily activities abruptly could raise unnecessary suspicion.
Avoiding Behaviors That Could Be Misinterpreted
Even innocent actions may look questionable on camera. For example, carrying a light grocery bag might appear as lifting heavy weight. Follow medical advice carefully to avoid footage being used against you.
Documenting Your Daily Limitations
Keep a journal detailing pain levels, therapy sessions, and how injuries affect daily tasks. This documentation helps counter misleading surveillance footage.
Notifying Your Attorney
If you suspect surveillance, tell your attorney right away. They can provide guidance on how to handle the situation and verify whether the insurance company has initiated an investigation.
How Can Surveillance Impact Your Auto Accident Claim?
Footage collected through surveillance can heavily influence how insurers evaluate claims.
How Insurers Use Footage Against Claimants
Adjusters may present clips to suggest that your injuries aren’t serious or that you’ve recovered fully. They often take moments out of context to pressure you into accepting a lower settlement.
Common Misconceptions About Surveillance Evidence
Many people believe surveillance footage tells the whole story, but short clips rarely capture the pain or effort behind physical movement. A person may smile or walk briefly for a photo but experience discomfort afterward.
The Difference Between Activity and Full Recovery
Being able to perform a simple activity doesn’t mean you’ve healed completely. Recovery includes many aspects that aren’t visible on camera, such as pain, fatigue, and medical limitations.
Michigan No-Fault Insurance and Surveillance
Michigan’s no-fault system allows injured drivers and passengers to receive benefits from their own insurer regardless of fault. Surveillance often plays a role in verifying claims under this system.
How Michigan's No-Fault System Affects Surveillance Practices
Because insurers must pay personal injury protection (PIP) benefits regardless of fault, they monitor claims closely to control costs. Surveillance helps them evaluate the extent and duration of a person’s injuries.
PIP Benefits and Insurer Investigations
PIP benefits cover medical care, rehabilitation, and a portion of lost income. Insurers may conduct surveillance to question the necessity of continued treatment or to suggest that a claimant has returned to work too soon.
Third-Party Liability Claims and Surveillance
When a person sues the at-fault driver for pain and suffering or other damages, insurers representing that driver often use surveillance to challenge the claim’s credibility.
Protecting Your Rights During Surveillance
Claimants can take steps to safeguard their privacy and strengthen their claim during surveillance periods.
Understanding Your Privacy Rights in Michigan
Michigan law protects individuals from unreasonable intrusion. Surveillance is allowed only in public areas and must not cross into harassment or stalking.
Social Media Precautions
Avoid posting updates, photos, or check-ins that could be misinterpreted. Even innocent activities might be used to argue that you’re exaggerating your injuries.
Being Honest About Your Injuries and Limitations
Always be truthful with your doctors and insurers. Exaggeration or inconsistency can give insurers reason to challenge your claim.
Following Medical Advice and Treatment Plans
Continue all prescribed treatments, therapies, and follow-ups. Compliance not only supports recovery but also demonstrates sincerity in your injury claim.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
Surveillance tactics can make claimants feel uneasy. The legal team at Goodman Acker PC helps clients respond appropriately and protect their claims from unfair tactics.
Preparing You for Potential Surveillance
We explain how surveillance works and prepare clients to handle it calmly. Understanding what to expect reduces anxiety and prevents accidental mistakes that could harm a claim.
Challenging Improperly Obtained or Misleading Evidence
Our attorneys know how to challenge footage that’s taken out of context or gathered illegally. If investigators crossed legal boundaries, we work to exclude that evidence from the case.
Providing Context for Surveillance Footage
We help present the full story behind any video or photos. For example, if footage shows you walking without assistance, we’ll explain whether that movement caused pain or required medication afterward.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies on Your Behalf
Dealing with insurance adjusters requires persistence and legal knowledge. We handle communications, advocate for fair treatment, and push back against unfair settlement tactics.
Protecting Your Legal Rights Throughout the Claims Process
From investigation through settlement, we focus on safeguarding your rights and presenting accurate, well-supported evidence of your injuries and losses.
FAQ: Insurance Company Surveillance
Can insurance investigators follow me anywhere?
Investigators may follow you in public spaces but can’t trespass on private property or enter your home without permission.
Will the insurance company tell me they're conducting surveillance?
No, surveillance is almost always conducted without notice. The goal is to observe natural behavior.
Can surveillance footage be used in court?
Yes, if the footage was obtained legally, it may be presented as evidence. However, attorneys can challenge its context or authenticity.
What if the surveillance video makes my injuries look less serious than they are?
Your attorney can provide medical records, testimony, and personal documentation to clarify that the footage doesn’t reflect your true condition.
Does hiring an attorney increase the likelihood of surveillance?
Surveillance typically depends on the claim’s value and the insurer’s practices, not on whether you have legal representation.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Michigan Now
Personal injury claims in Michigan involve strict time limits, so taking quick action protects your right to pursue compensation. Goodman Acker PC helps injured people understand how surveillance affects their claims and works to ensure fair treatment from insurance companies. Our attorneys have decades of experience advocating for Michigan accident victims and are ready to review your case at no cost.
Reach out today for a free consultation to discuss your accident and learn how we can help you move forward with confidence.