Insurance companies hire private investigators for a variety of reasons, but the most common reason is to investigate suspicious or fraudulent insurance claims. Insurance fraud is a serious problem that costs companies billions of dollars each year, and private investigators are often used as a tool to combat this problem.
When an insurance claim is made, the insurance company will typically conduct an initial investigation to determine the validity of the claim. However, in some cases, the company may suspect that the claim is fraudulent or suspicious. This may be due to a number of factors, such as inconsistencies in the information provided, a history of previous fraudulent claims, or a high-value claim that seems too good to be true. In these situations, the insurance company may decide to hire a private investigator to conduct a more in-depth investigation.
Private investigators are trained professionals who have the skills and expertise to conduct surveillance, gather evidence, and interview witnesses. They can use a variety of methods to gather information, such as monitoring the activities of the claimant, conducting background checks, and taking photographs or videos. This evidence can then be used to support or refute the insurance claim, and help the company make a fair and accurate decision about the claim.
Another reason insurance companies hire private investigators is to verify the extent of the injury or damage claimed by the policy holder. For example, if a policy holder claims that they are unable to work due to a back injury, a private investigator may conduct surveillance to confirm if the policy holder is indeed unable to work and is not engaging in activities that would suggest otherwise.
Additionally, private investigators may also be used to check for subrogation potential. Subrogation is when an insurance company seeks to recover money it has paid out for a claim from a third party that is liable for the loss. For example, if an insurance company pays out a claim for a car accident, and it is later determined that the accident was caused by another driver, the insurance company may use a private investigator to gather evidence that can be used to recover the money from the other driver.
In conclusion, insurance companies hire private investigators for a variety of reasons, but the most common reason is to investigate suspicious or fraudulent insurance claims. Private investigators are trained professionals who have the skills and expertise to gather evidence and conduct surveillance, which can help insurance companies make fair and accurate decisions about claims. Additionally, they can also be used to verify the extent of injury/damage and check for subrogation potential.