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Los Angeles attorney article review: To find a good private investigator first ask those you trust for referrals. You can also find them through the internet or yellow pages. Also before you speak to the investigator, know your budget and what exactly you want.
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Checklist for
Hiring a Private Investigator
by Colleen Collins
Looking for an old friend? Want to know if your spouse is cheating? Need to
check out a potential tenant or employee?
A good private investigator (PI) can help you obtain these answers. And as with
any expert you hire—a doctor, a lawyer, an insurance broker—it benefits you to
take the time to ensure you're hiring a professional who has experience, a
quality reputation, and good-business ethics. Below is a checklist that will
help you find just such a private investigator:
1. Ask friends, business associates, your lawyer for a referral. Word of mouth
gives you the inside scoop, and the opportunity to ask questions specific to
your needs.
2. Check your state's private investigator associations, most of which have web
sites that post their membership directory.
3. If you can't find a private investigation association for your state, there
are multiple national PI organizations that refer investigators, such as The
National Association of Investigative Specialists (http://www.pimall.com/nais/dir.menu.html).
Also, check your state's legal organizations—for example, affiliates of the
American Trial Lawyer's Association or the state defense bar—which typically
have a directory of recommended investigators.
4. Insurance companies use PIs constantly. Especially if your needs fall into
surveillance and background checks, an excellent resource is your own homeowners
insurance company. Ask to speak to a claims representative. With a few
inquiries, you should be able to pinpoint which investigators your insurance
company uses, which is a good referral.
5. Check Internet and Yellow Pages for
private investigator listings, but
remember these are paid-for ads. Ask for references; check if the PI is licensed
(most states require a PI to be licensed, a few don't); if you're going before a
judge and jury, ask if the PI has courtroom experience. NOTE: An untrained
investigator may not know the laws and end up doing something illegal during an
investigation—which causes you problems.
Injured people with lawyers receive 3.7 times more than injured people without lawyers.
Insurance Research Council National Survey of auto injury claims
6. Before you speak to an investigator, decide what's in your budget.
7. When you speak to an investigator, ask if he/she has done the type of work
you're seeking. More important, ask them the outcome of that type of
investigation.
8. Ask to see examples of reports they've produced for similar cases.
9. Gauge your comfort level while speaking to the investigator. Good
communication will be critical after the investigation begins. Also, be open
minded—your investigator may have new ideas that are worthy of exploration.
10. Expect to pay a retainer up front. Just because a PI doesn't ask for one (or
even a reasonable hourly rate), doesn't mean he/she is better at what they do.
You want to hire someone who's competent, not hard up for work.
Remember, a good private investigator can be your best resource!
Subscribe to Highlands Investigations & Legal Services, Inc. free quarterly
e-newsletter, which provides leading-edge legal, forensic, investigative
articles, and more. All new subscribers during the months of January-February
2005 receive a free Highlands Investigations 2005 mini-calendar. To subscribe,
go to http://www.highlandsinvestigations.com
Copyright 2005, Colleen Collins
Highlands Investigations & Legal Services, a product of two logically related
sets of background and training—-attorney and information specialist--offers a
unique blend of investigative and writing/research skills. To learn more about
our services, go to http://www.highlandsinvestigations.com
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