Good Detective Skills Can Change A Case
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
For people who are involved in a legitimate personal injury case, the use of an investigator by your personal injury lawyer—or even the lawyers of the party you are suing—are just one more way to arrive at the truth and get a verdict in your favor. During what is called the “discovery” phase in the time leading up to an actual trial, both sides of a civil lawsuit are free to use any legal means necessary to further investigate the truth and shore up arguments that will eventually be presented to a jury at the trial.Despite the fact that we now live in a world of DNA profiling and forensic analysis, sometimes it is good old fashioned detective work that is critical to uncovering the real truth behind a story. Especially when the truth has been deliberately obscured.
From Personal Injury To Fraud
One example of how investigative techniques can uncover the truth happened in Ireland in 2015. A Lithuanian woman who had been in a car accident sued for damages over what she claimed were crippling injuries. However, in the lead up to the actual trial, investigators got on the case and began to examine various aspects of the woman’s life, including her social media.
It was discovered that she completely fabricated her injuries. Her social media accounts showed a very fit woman, participating in various athletic events, working out at the gym, and even participating in body building competitions. None of these activities would have been physically possible if she had really been injured to the extent that she claimed. In this case, it never occurred to her that the claims she made for her court case would ever be compared to what she posted online. She believed there was no apparent connection between the two and didn’t realize that what she said and did publicly online could be investigated by anyone.
In America, a 56 year old man claiming to be injured in an accident was suing for a substantial amount due to the severity of his injuries. He claimed he was unable to even brush his teeth properly without the assistance of his wife. However, investigation into his lifestyle led to the discovery that when no one was looking at home, he was perfectly capable of carrying large cinder blocks to his own car, as well as a hydraulic jack to work the heavy equipment and complete automotive repairs.
Diligence Gets Results
Investigation can play a crucial role in discovering the truth for a personal injury case. For example, if you’re suing someone for negligence resulting in a car accident, good detective work and a little technical know-how can reveal that the other driver was using his phone for texting, and then deleted the messages in attempt to hide the evidence.
By being diligent, investigating all avenues, and having the experience to know where to look, such as investigating a person’s cellular phone service provider, the truth comes to light. And that truth can go a long way towards reinforcing your claim. Or, if you are being deceptive, uncovering your ruse.