Insurance Defense & Workers' Compensation Investigations in Coconut Grove, FL
The claim says he cannot lift ten pounds. The video shows him hauling a cooler onto a boat at Dinner Key.
Confidential. Written estimate before we start.
Surveillance That Settles Exaggerated Claims
Defense firms and claims adjusters have sent Wasser Investigations their Coconut Grove files since 1985. The reason is simple. Marc Rapaport, a partner at Cole, Scott & Kissane, has said on the record that Travis Wasser gets surveillance his firm can use in defense of its cases and that it has led to favorable settlements. That is the standard: footage clear enough, dated enough, and lawful enough that plaintiff’s counsel stops arguing.
We document what a claimant can physically do on an ordinary day. Carrying groceries into a condo on South Bayshore Drive. Loading a paddleboard at Kennedy Park. Working a second job at a restaurant on Grand Avenue while collecting temporary total disability. Then we put it in a report with a timeline, and Travis shows up for the deposition.
What We Investigate for Insurers
Workers’ compensation
Activity checks, surveillance during claimed disability periods, and verification of restrictions under Chapter 440. We also document unreported employment, which in the Grove often means cash work on boats, in restaurants, or in the trades.
Bodily injury and auto liability
Post-crash surveillance of claimants alleging permanent injury under Florida’s PIP threshold. We look for the gym, the softball league, and the marina.
Premises liability defense
Scene documentation and witness canvass from the defense side, plus a hard look at the claimant’s prior claims history and prior injuries.
Disability and long-term care
Extended activity monitoring for long-tail claims where a pattern over weeks matters more than a single afternoon.
Homeowner and property claims
Verification of loss, pre-loss condition, and contractor involvement on Grove properties, including post-storm roof and water claims.
Watching a Claimant in a Neighborhood Built to Spot Outsiders
Coconut Grove is one of the harder places in Miami-Dade to run surveillance. The residential streets between Main Highway and the bay are narrow and canopied, with little through traffic and neighbors who notice a parked car within the hour. Gated communities and condominium garages off Bayshore add another layer.
We have operated from Coral Gables, next door, for forty years. We know the public vantage points along the waterfront, the parking at Peacock Park and the marina, the Metrorail station lot, and the rhythm of a claimant’s day well enough to be in position before they leave the house. Discretion is a legal requirement as much as a tactical one. Surveillance that crosses into trespass or harassment gets excluded, and we do not give plaintiff’s counsel that gift.
The Surveillance Package
- Timestamped, continuous video with no gaps that invite argument
- Still frames of the moments that matter, labeled by date and time
- A written activity log for every surveillance day, including days with no activity
- Chain-of-custody records for all media
- Background on the claimant: prior claims, prior suits, social media, employment
- Investigator testimony at deposition, mediation, or trial
We report what we saw, including when the claimant behaved exactly as the medical restrictions describe. Defense counsel needs to know that before mediation, not after.
Questions From Adjusters and Defense Attorneys
How many days of surveillance does a workers' comp claim need?
Two to three days spread over a couple of weeks is the usual starting point. Weekends and days after a medical appointment tend to be productive. After the first block we give you a straight recommendation on whether to continue.
Is claimant surveillance legal in Florida?
Yes, when conducted from public places or places where the investigator has a right to be, without trespass, and without recording private conversations. Florida’s all-party consent rule under Statute 934 applies to audio, so our video is shot without sound where required.
Can the claimant's social media be used?
Yes. We capture public posts with dates and URLs and preserve them before they disappear. A boat trip posted on Instagram during a claimed bed-rest period is routine.
Do you handle SIU referrals and suspected fraud?
Yes. We coordinate with your special investigations unit and prepare files suitable for referral to the Florida Division of Investigative and Forensic Services when fraud indicators are present.
How fast can you start?
Same week for most Grove assignments. Our office is ten minutes away on Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
Get a Written Quote on Your Claimant
Send the claim number and the restrictions. We will tell you what a surveillance block costs and when we can start.
Request a Quote