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Why Smart Attorneys Use a Private Investigator Early

  • Writer: Steve Navarrete
    Steve Navarrete
  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

You’re preparing for a hearing or deposition and realize the one person who can confirm the facts is missing, hard to reach, or suddenly unsure about what they remember.


Now you’re chasing phone numbers, old addresses, and half leads instead of focusing on legal strategy.


That’s usually when people think, “Maybe we should hire an investigator.” In reality, that call should happen much earlier.


Locating witnesses isn’t just running a database search. People move, change numbers, and avoid contact. Real field work often involves research, canvassing, and persistent follow-up to make actual contact, not just find an old address.


And once a witness is located, a proper statement matters just as much. A detailed, documented interview that clarifies timelines and tests credibility is far more useful than a quick summary or secondhand notes. It helps you walk into depositions and negotiations with fewer surprises.


There’s a big difference between:


“Yeah, he told me basically what happened…” and


A clean, detailed, signed statement that locks in facts.


When I interview a witness, I’m not just taking notes. I’m:

  • Establishing timeline and sequence

  • Testing memory gaps

  • Identifying contradictions early

  • Capturing exact language

  • Assessing credibility and cooperation


There’s also a simple business reality. If you’re billing at attorney rates, you shouldn’t be driving neighborhoods or knocking on doors. Your time is better spent on strategy, motions, and court. Field work is what investigators are built for.


The biggest benefit I see isn’t just convenience. It’s intelligence. Early witness work often uncovers details that change settlement posture, expose weaknesses, or strengthen liability before you’ve invested more time and money into a case.


In short, if a witness matters to your case, treat them like evidence. Track them down early, document what they know, and remove the guesswork.


It’s almost always cheaper and far less stressful than scrambling at the last minute.


If you regularly handle cases that depend on people, not just paperwork, having an investigator involved from the start can make all the difference.


If you have a case that depends on finding the right people and getting clear, reliable statements, contact Miami PSPI, LLC and we’ll handle the legwork so you can stay focused on the law.


 
 
 

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