Insurance Claim Investigations for Tennessee Insurers and Counsel
Adjusters and defense attorneys need facts they can rely on and a report they can hand to a supervisor or a court. Birds Eye verifies claims across Tennessee with statements, scene work, record research and activity checks, all documented to a consistent standard.
- Claim verification for carriers and TPAs
- Recorded statements and scene documentation
- Reports built for adjusters and defense counsel
What kind of file is it?
Pick the closest match and we will point you to the right next step.
What does an insurance claim investigation involve?
An insurance claim investigation gathers independent facts about a reported loss: who was involved, what happened, where and when, and whether the claimed injury or damage matches the evidence. Typical tasks include recorded statements, scene photographs and measurements, witness canvasses, public-record checks and, when warranted, lawful activity checks on the claimant.
Who Assigns Claim Files to a PI Agency
Most assignments come from four places: insurance carriers whose in-house adjusters need field support, third-party administrators managing claims for employers and risk pools, self-insured Tennessee employers handling their own workers' compensation and liability exposure, and defense firms preparing a claim for litigation. Each needs the same core product, which is verified fact, but each reads a report differently.
We ask at intake who will rely on the findings and in what setting. An adjuster setting reserves wants clarity quickly. Counsel preparing for mediation wants detail they can test. A risk manager may need a summary for a claims committee. The scope reflects that from the start.
Claim Verification: Confirming the Basics Before Anything Else
Many claim problems are not fraud at all. They are errors in dates, addresses, employment status, vehicle ownership or the sequence of events. Verification checks the building blocks of the claim against independent sources: where the claimant actually lives, whether the employer and job duties match the file, whether the vehicle was registered and insured as stated, and whether prior claims or lawsuits appear in public court records.
Where a consumer report is involved in an insurance decision, the Fair Credit Reporting Act may apply, and we coordinate with the client so the right procedures are followed. Public court and property records do not raise the same issues, and we use them heavily.
- Identity and residence confirmation
- Employment and job-duty verification
- Prior claims and lawsuits in public court records
- Vehicle registration and ownership checks
- Business existence and licensing for commercial claims
Recorded Statements From Claimants and Witnesses
A well-taken statement is neutral, complete and easy to follow months later. Our PIs use a consistent structure: identification, background, the event in the witness's own words, then specific clarifying questions. Statements are recorded with the speaker's knowledge, and we confirm consent on the recording itself. Tennessee is a one-party-consent state under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-601, but open recording is simply better practice for statements meant to be used.
If a claimant has an attorney, contact generally goes through that attorney, and we follow your instructions and counsel's guidance on that point. Witness statements are transcribed or summarized as the client prefers.
Talk it through with a licensed PI
Tell us what is happening. We will explain what the work involves and put scope, timeline and cost in writing before anything starts.
Scene Documentation and Witness Canvasses
Scenes change quickly. Skid marks fade, signage is replaced, debris is cleared and nearby businesses overwrite their camera footage. Early scene work captures photographs from multiple angles, measurements, lighting and sightline notes, traffic controls and the location of any cameras that might have recorded the event. We note who controls that footage so counsel can send a preservation request.
A canvass of nearby homes and businesses often turns up witnesses who never spoke to police. We record contact details, what each person saw, and where they were standing, which helps counsel judge credibility later.
Activity Checks on Reported Injuries
When the file raises a genuine question about the extent of a claimed injury, a short, targeted activity check may be appropriate. Observation happens only from public places, never on private property or through windows, and never by placing tracking devices on vehicles, which Tennessee law prohibits without the owner's consent. Video is timestamped and paired with written notes.
Detailed workflows for longer liability and disability surveillance, and for workers' compensation activity checks, sit on their own pages. This page covers the broader claim investigation those checks fit into.
Reports That Hold Up Under Review
Our claim reports separate observation from opinion. Each fact is tied to a source, a date and the person who gathered it. Photographs and video are logged with file names and descriptions, and original media is preserved unaltered with a record of who handled it. Adjusters get a short summary on the first page; the supporting detail follows for anyone who needs it.
Because Birds Eye does not decide claims, reports do not recommend a coverage outcome. They lay out what we found, what we could not confirm and where the remaining questions lie.
What a claim assignment can include
Claimant background research
Residence, employment and public-record history, gathered lawfully and matched against the file.
Recorded statements
Structured, consented statements from claimants and witnesses, with transcripts or summaries.
Scene photographs and measurements
Multi-angle images, dimensions, lighting and sightline notes captured as early as possible.
Witness canvass
Door-to-door and business canvasses to identify people who saw or heard the event.
Camera and footage mapping
Locations of private and public cameras and who controls them, for preservation requests.
Activity documentation
Short, lawful observation from public places when a claimed limitation needs to be tested.
How an assignment moves
Referral and scope
You send the file notes and questions; we return a written scope and cost before work starts.
Desk research
Records work confirms identities, addresses and history so fieldwork is aimed correctly.
Field tasks
Statements, scene work, canvasses and any authorized activity checks are completed and logged.
Report and follow-up
You receive a sourced report with media, and we remain available for questions or testimony.
Matching the task to the claim question
| Claim question | Investigative task | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Did the accident happen as described? | Scene documentation and witness canvass | Photos, measurements, witness list |
| Is the claimant who and where they say? | Identity and residence verification | Sourced background summary |
| What did witnesses actually see? | Recorded statements | Audio plus transcript or summary |
| Are the reported limitations consistent? | Lawful activity check | Timestamped video and field notes |
| Has this person claimed before? | Public court and claims-related record research | List of prior matters with sources |
Send these with a new assignment
Complete referrals let us start faster and avoid duplicating work your team has done.
Statewide coverage from Nashville
Claims happen everywhere, and so does our fieldwork. Birds Eye handles claim assignments in all 95 Tennessee counties, including the Nashville metro and its fast-growing suburbs, the Interstate 40 and 24 corridors, Chattanooga and Knoxville in the east, and Memphis, Jackson and the rural counties of West Tennessee. Scene work in rural areas is planned around longer drive times and fewer available cameras, so early assignment matters even more there.
All service areasNashvilleMemphisKnoxvilleChattanoogaProcess serving
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a claim investigation different from an insurance fraud investigation?
A claim investigation verifies facts on an ordinary claim, most of which turn out to be legitimate. Fraud work focuses on suspected staged accidents, organized rings or deliberate misrepresentation, and it usually has a different evidence plan and potential law enforcement referral. Many files start as claim verification and only move to fraud work if the facts point that way.
Can a PI take a recorded statement from an injured claimant?
Yes, with the person's knowledge and agreement, and subject to your instructions. If the claimant is represented by an attorney, contact generally goes through that attorney. We confirm consent at the start of each recording and keep the questioning neutral so the statement is useful to everyone who reviews it later.
Do you work directly for third-party administrators?
Yes. TPAs are a common source of assignments, especially for self-insured employers and public entities. We follow the TPA's reporting format and communication rules, and we can copy the employer or defense counsel as the TPA directs.
Can surveillance results be used to deny a claim?
Claim decisions belong to the carrier or employer and their counsel, applying the policy and Tennessee law. Our role is to document accurately what was observed and when. We do not recommend coverage outcomes, and reports make clear what the video does and does not show.
How quickly should scene work happen after a loss?
As soon as possible. Physical evidence fades, and many businesses record over camera footage within days. Even if the rest of the investigation can wait, an early scene visit and camera map preserve options that disappear quickly.
Will your PIs testify about their findings?
Our PIs can testify about the work they personally performed, the observations they made and how evidence was handled. Scheduling and preparation for testimony are arranged with counsel and set out in writing.
Related pages
Assign a claim file
Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com with the file details, and Birds Eye will return a written scope.
Photography: Chris Grant (Unsplash License). Last reviewed . General information, not legal advice.
