Last Updated: March 2026
What are the Fees for an Injury Claim Investigation in BC?
The cost of an injury claim investigation in British Columbia typically ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, reflecting one to three consecutive days of surveillance depending on what the investigators observe. At Shadow Investigations, surveillance is billed at $75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre, which works out to approximately $500 for a half-day or $1,000 for a full day after tax. If required, supporting methods such as background checks, OSINT, undercover operations, and witness interviews are billed at their respective rates.
The cost is driven by how much investigative time is needed to document the claimant’s activity in a way that is useful to the employer, insurer, or legal team reviewing the file. This page breaks down the rates, the factors that affect total cost, realistic scenario examples, and how to think about the return on investment for a claims investigation.
In This Article
- What Are the Rates for Each Method?
- What Is the Biggest Cost Factor in a Claims Investigation?
- How Does the Quality of Intake Information Affect Cost?
- How Much Do Supporting Methods Add to the Total?
- What Does a Typical Injury Claim Investigation Actually Cost?
- How Should Employers and Insurers Think About Return on Investment?
- Is It Better to Start With a Focused First Step?
- How Do Multi-Day Surveillance Programs Work?
What Are the Rates for Each Method?
The following rates apply to injury claim investigations at Shadow Investigations. These are the same rates published on our pricing page and are current as of 2026.
- Surveillance: $75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre. A half-day surveillance period typically costs approximately $500 after tax. A full day runs approximately $1,000 after tax. Mileage covers both active monitoring and travel to and from the location. Out-of-pocket expenses such as parking are reimbursed at cost. Once the case concludes, there is a $100 fee to compile the report, video, and photographs, upon request.
- Background checks: Specific searches start at $50 per search plus disbursements. Comprehensive background checks are billed at $125 per hour plus disbursements.
- OSINT (open-source intelligence): $125 per hour plus disbursements if subscription-based databases are accessed. A basic OSINT search typically takes two to four hours, putting most searches in the $250–$500 range.
- Undercover operations and pretext inquiries: $75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre, the same rate structure as surveillance. Out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed at cost.
- Witness statement interviews: $200 per interview over video conferencing, or $500 per in-person interview within the BC Lower Mainland, plus report fees.
- Consultations: Free, with no obligation.
What Is the Biggest Cost Factor in a Claims Investigation?
Surveillance time is almost always the largest portion of the total cost. Injury claim investigations typically require more surveillance periods than other types of cases because the evidence needs to demonstrate a pattern of capability rather than a single observation. An insurer or defence lawyer reviewing the file wants to see that the claimant’s physical activity was documented on multiple occasions across different days, showing consistent capability that contradicts the reported limitations.
A single surveillance period might capture the claimant carrying heavy bags of groceries into their home. Three surveillance periods across consecutive days might show the claimant carrying groceries on one day, doing extensive yard work on another, and loading construction materials into a truck on a third. The difference in evidentiary weight is substantial.
Surveillance costs increase when:
- Multiple periods are needed to establish a pattern rather than documenting a single event
- The claimant’s schedule is unpredictable, requiring the investigator to cover broader time windows per day
- An extended timeframe is needed on one or more of the days to document the duration and repetition of physical activity
- Additional investigators are required to fully cover multiple exits or vantage points at a key location such as the subject’s home address, or to more discreetly monitor a claimant who is known to be surveillance-conscious
- The claimant resides in a remote or rural locations in BC, which may require additional travel and accommodation fees
How Does the Quality of Intake Information Affect Cost?
The quality of information provided at intake directly affects how efficiently an investigator can work. A file where the client can provide the claimant’s address, vehicle details, known appointments, specific times of concern, and a clear description of the suspected activity allows the investigator to plan targeted surveillance that often produces results in less time.
A file where the client has only vague concerns with no supporting details may require some preliminary work before productive surveillance can begin. That preliminary work may include background research to identify potential worksites or business associations, OSINT to find leads or schedule indicators, or a broader initial surveillance window while determining the claimant’s routine.
The most useful intake information for a claims investigation includes:
- The claimant’s full name, date of birth, and a recent photograph
- Home address and any known secondary addresses
- Vehicle make, model, colour, and plate number
- The nature of the claimed injury and the specific functional limitations reported
- Known daily routine, work schedule (if any), and regular activities
- The specific concern that prompted the investigation, such as what has been observed, reported, or suspected
- Any social media accounts, business names, or other online identifiers that may be relevant
Employers and insurers who provide organized, detailed intake information almost always get more efficient investigations and lower total costs.
How Much Do Supporting Methods Add to the Total?
Supporting methods add relatively modest cost compared to surveillance but can significantly improve the overall efficiency and outcome of the investigation.
Background checks ($50–$500): A targeted background check on the claimant might cost $50–$200 for specific searches. A comprehensive check involving corporate searches, property records, and cross-referencing multiple databases might run $300–$500. For injury claims files, background checks are most valuable when they reveal undisclosed business activity, residential addresses or employment that provides a specific target for surveillance or undercover work.
OSINT ($250–$500): A basic OSINT search typically runs two to four hours at $125 per hour. For injury claim files where the claimant has a moderate or large online presence, OSINT can often pay for itself by identifying leads that make surveillance more targeted. Public social media posts showing the claimant at a gym, a marketplace listing advertising services, or a tagged photo at a recreational event can provide opportunities to investigate further.
Undercover operations ($300–$800 per engagement): An undercover inquiry typically involves some time for preparation, the interaction itself, and documentation including a transcription of the conversation in the report. The cost varies depending on the complexity of the scenario and travel involved. Undercover work is most effective when it provides direct evidence of the claimant performing work that is in direct contradiction of their reported claim, and that might otherwise not be uncovered by surveillance alone.
Witness interviews ($200–$500 per interview): Each interview is a separate fee, and some cases may require more than one witness statement. The resulting signed statements can corroborate surveillance findings, provide context around the claimant’s behaviour that supports further investigation, and in some cases include testimony from a witness to the original incident itself.
What Does a Typical Injury Claim Investigation Actually Cost?
Claims files vary widely in scope, but the following scenarios give a realistic sense of what different types of investigations cost:
Quick-check surveillance: An adjuster wants a single surveillance period to observe the claimant on a day they have a medical appointment, to document their mobility and presentation before and after while determining if further investigation is warranted. One four-hour period. Approximate cost: $500 (surveillance + mileage + reporting).
Targeted, single-concern file: The employer receives a specific tip, such as a coworker seeing the claimant doing renovation work last Saturday, that is in blatant contradiction to their reported injury. The investigator conducts one six-hour surveillance period the following Saturday at that location. The claimant arrives and is documented performing sustained physical labour. Approximate cost: $700 (surveillance + mileage + reporting).
OSINT-led, moderate file: The insurer suspects the claimant may be working but has no specific leads. OSINT identifies a marketplace listing where the claimant is advertising landscaping services. A background check confirms a business registration before the investigator monitors the claimant over two days while obtaining video evidence of the claimant working full-time. Approximate cost: $2,000–$3,000 (OSINT + background check + surveillance + reporting).
Standard three-day, moderate file: Defence counsel wants documented evidence of the claimant’s functional capability across three consecutive days for use in litigation. Approximate cost: $3,000–$3,500 (surveillance + mileage + reporting).
Comprehensive, multi-method file: An employer has broad concerns about a long-duration claim. The investigation involves OSINT, background research, three to five surveillance periods over two weeks, an undercover operation investigating the claimant’s suspected business activity, and two witness interviews with coworkers who have reported observations. Approximate cost: $5,000–$8,000+ (OSINT + background check + surveillance + undercover + witness interviews + reporting).
How Should Employers and Insurers Think About Return on Investment for an Injury Claim Investigation?
How Should Employers and Insurers Think About Return on Investment for an Injury Claim Investigation? The return on investment for an injury claim investigation should be measured against the cost of the claim itself, not in isolation. For insurers, claims involving wage-loss benefits, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and reserve allocations can cost tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars over their lifecycle. For employers, the ongoing cost of a fraudulent or exaggerated claim can affect premiums, workplace morale, and operational capacity. An investigation that produces evidence supporting a claim reassessment, a settlement reduction, a return to work, just cause for termination of employment, or a successful defence at trial can deliver returns that are orders of magnitude greater than the investigation cost.
Consider these examples:
- WorkSafeBC claim: A worker has been on wage-loss benefits for eight months at $4,000 per month ($32,000 total). A $3,000 investigation documents the claimant performing sustained physical labour inconsistent with the claimed limitations over a three-day period. The employer submits the evidence to WorkSafeBC requesting a claim review. If the review results in benefits being adjusted or terminated even two months earlier than they otherwise would have been, the employer saves $8,000 in direct claim costs, plus the ongoing impact on their experience rating and future premiums.
- Long-term disability claim: An insurer is managing a disability claim with a reserve of $200,000. A $4,000 investigation produces surveillance video and OSINT evidence showing the claimant engaged in undisclosed employment and regular recreational activity. The evidence supports a denial or settlement at a fraction of the reserve. The $4,000 investigation cost is negligible relative to the reserve exposure.
- Personal injury litigation: A plaintiff is claiming $500,000 in damages for loss of functional capacity. A $5,000 investigation produces five days of surveillance video showing the plaintiff performing activities that directly contradict the claimed limitations. The evidence is used in cross-examination and challenges the plaintiff’s expert medical evidence. Even a modest reduction in the damages award far exceeds the investigation cost.
- Early closure: A claimant is monitored for a half-day at a cost of $500. During that period the investigator observes visible signs consistent with the reported injury. Following a discussion with the client, the decision is made to conclude the investigation. The file is closed at minimal cost with the added confidence that the claim appears legitimate, allowing the client to manage it accordingly.
Is It Better to Start With a Focused First Step?
In most cases, yes. Rather than committing to a multi-week, multi-method investigation upfront, starting with a focused first step, typically one or two surveillance periods targeting the most promising time window, or an OSINT search to identify leads, is usually the most practical approach.
A focused first step typically costs $500–$1,000 and accomplishes two things. First, if the claimant happens to be active during that window, it produces immediate, usable evidence. Second, even if the claimant is not active, it provides the investigator with information about the claimant’s routine and behaviour that helps plan subsequent periods more effectively. In some cases, what is observed during that initial period may also indicate that the claim appears consistent with the reported injury, allowing the client to make an informed decision to conclude the investigation early and avoid unnecessary further costs.
Starting small means being strategic about where to direct resources and then expanding based on what the initial findings reveal. An investigator who recommends a $5,000 investigation before conducting any preliminary work may not be planning the file efficiently.
How Do Multi-Day Surveillance Programs Work?
For claims files where a pattern of evidence is needed, particularly litigation files where defence counsel wants multiple documented instances of capability, the investigation may involve a scheduled surveillance program of three to six days spread over two to four weeks.
In a multi-day program, the investigator varies the surveillance days and times to capture the claimant’s behaviour across different contexts: weekdays versus weekends, mornings versus afternoons, days with medical appointments versus routine days. This variation helps demonstrate that the documented activity is habitual rather than a one-time occurrence.
Multi-day programs are typically planned in phases. The first two periods establish the claimant’s routine and identify whether productive activity is occurring. Based on those results, the remaining periods are adjusted to target the most promising windows. This adaptive approach is more cost-effective than scheduling all periods in advance and hoping for the best.
The cost of a multi-day program depends on the number of periods and their duration but typically ranges from $3,000 to $6,000 for a three-to-six-day program with mileage and reporting.
Related Knowledge Pages
Want to Understand the Likely Cost for Your File?
If you are an employer, insurer, or legal professional considering an injury claim investigation and want a realistic cost estimate based on your specific circumstances, contact Shadow Investigations by phone at 604-657-4499 or through our confidential inquiry form below. All consultations are free and confidential. We will assess your situation, recommend the most efficient starting approach, and provide a clear cost estimate before any work begins.
Contact Form for Investigation Inquiries
"*" indicates required fields
About the Author
