Can they hire a private investigator to follow me?

Yes, and it's routine in cases with substantial claimed damages.

What's permitted. Observation and recording in public places — outside your home, at a store, at a gym, at work. Investigators can photograph and video what's visible from a public vantage point.

What isn't. Entering your property, recording inside your home, trespassing, or certain forms of electronic intrusion.

When it happens. Frequently around scheduled events the insurer knows about — an independent medical examination, a deposition, a court date. Those are predictable, which makes them efficient to surveil.

What surveillance actually captures. Usually a few minutes of an ordinary day. Someone carrying groceries, bending to pick something up, walking without an obvious limp. Presented without context, it can look inconsistent with a claim.

What to do about it. Live consistently with your actual limitations, follow your restrictions, and don't do things your doctor told you not to do. That's the whole strategy.

If you notice surveillance, tell your attorney rather than confronting anyone.