Workers' Compensation and Medical Provider fraud are significant contributors to the nation's $30 billion dollar insurance fraud epidemic. Insurance companies pick up the tab, passing the cost on to policyholders, taxpayers and the general public.  Merrill's Investigations gives employers and insurers the tools they need to ensure they are only paying legitimate claims.

The United States Supreme Court has concluded that video surveillance is an acceptable means of investigating workers’ compensation injury claims. These surveillance results can be used as evidence in court. Findings from video surveillance give an objective view of a person's physical capabilities and daily activities as related to his or her claim of workplace injury. The evidence obtained becomes a solid, effective negotiating tool when an individual's alleged injury is contradicted by videotaped evidence.

All of Merrill's investigators are familiar with Maine's Workers' Compensation Act as it relates to investigation procedures. All investigations are conducted within the law to avoid claims resulting from entrapment, invasion of privacy, misrepresentation and trespassing.

Merrill's Investigations utilizes cutting edge technology to conduct workers' compensation fraud surveillance for our clients. Merrill's Investigations and Security, LLC is a licensed and insured investigative agency specializing in workers' compensation fraud using the latest in video surveillance technology.

Merrill's Investigations works with and coordinates the professionals involved during the fire scene investigative process. If you are an insurer with a fire-related loss in Northern New England, Merrill's Investigations provides the most comprehensive set of resources available to perform fire scene investigations and insurance fraud assessment.

Merrill's arson investigators use a systematic approach when inspecting instances of suspected arson. New facts and data often become available for analysis when Merrill's discovers evidence and data overlooked during the preliminary investigation. A conviction for arson requires conclusive physical evidence and/or compelling circumstantial evidence.

Merrill's Investigations understands that both types are extremely

important and uses its law enforcement experience to preserve the admissibility of evidence when circumstances permit.

Forensic arson and explosion investigation is a field made up of many highly trained professionals, such as police arson and bomb squads, firefighters and fire marshals, safety professionals, insurance and private investigators, forensic chemists and other criminalists, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers. Merrill's has managed cases using each of these specialty resources and knows how to leverage their unique individual skills to piece together the whole case.

Further, because arsonists often return to the scene of the crime, property owners and insurers can benefit by putting Merrill's Investigations surveillance experts on the case. Using a combination of human and electronic intelligence gathering techniques, the Merrill's team has a demonstrated track record of using surveillance to solve complex property crimes.

Police departments take information, but they do not have the resources to perform a thorough investigation for every "routine" accident. This may be fine for everyone else, but when it is your accident there is nothing "routine" about it.

You may be injured, or you may be the target of a lawsuit due to other injuries. You may be an insurance company trying to get to the bottom of what really happened. Merrill’s Investigations is here to help.

Merrill's accident investigation specialists will locate and interview potential witnesses, assess the veracity of their statements, and provide an opinion on how each may perform as a witness in court. Our investigators will evaluate police reports for accuracy and thoroughness. They will examine the scene to ensure all of the evidence was identified and recorded.

Time is of the essence, so contact Merrill's as soon as possible. Our experience reveals that witness memories fade almost as quickly as physical evidence at the crash scene. You need accurate information and an experienced investigator when your case is to be litigated. Merrill's can help you get it right.

All services that we provide are court-ready. We are fully qualified to consult and testify at civil proceedings in Federal, State and Tribal Courts.

Our fully qualified investigators are equipped with state-of-the-art tools and are trained to carry out all aspects of Accident Investigation:

• Comprehensive reconstruction reporting
• Tire mark speed calculations
• Critical speed mark calculations
• Sight lines
• Reaction times
• Braking and stopping distances
• Scene examination
• Appraisal of presented evidence
• Digital and printed photographs
• Video photography
• Scale plan
• Witness location and interviews

Property and casualty insurance fraud in the U.S. causes approximately $30 billion in losses each year according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Applicants for insurance, policyholders, third-party claimants and professionals who provide services to claimants may commit fraud at different points in the insurance transaction. Common types of fraud include inflating claims, misrepresenting facts on applications, submitting claims for injuries or damage that never occurred, and "staging" accidents.

Merrill's Investigations provides the personnel, security, equipment and expertise to perform investigations on behalf of its clients in accordance with the specific requirements of the case as defined by the coordinator, case manager, or other designee.

Merrill's is committed to making certain all property and casualty insurance fraud investigations will be conducted and completed to the satisfaction of the client.

We use some of the most state-of-the-art technology to locate and monitor social activity. We also have the capability to find data that has been 'deleted'. In this age of technology more information is found on individuals through the World Wide Web than ever before. Our Social Blitz information system is an invaluable tool when trying to decide if an in depth surveillance is warranted. This low cost investigative tool seeks out information on the employee by searching a wide range of internet based websites.

Merrill’s has been able to discover prior unknown business relationships, physical activities, prior insurance and disability history, and criminal and civil court documents. This innovative tool assists adjusters with more information on a subject’s background and daily activities.