Should I Give a Statement to the Insurance Company?

Should I Give a Recorded Statement to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

After a car accident, there are a lot of steps to take and formalities to follow. If you have never been through the process before, it can be overwhelming and you might not understand exactly what is required of you.

The other driver’s insurance company will contact you, but what if they ask you for a recorded statement? They might tell you it is required in order for them to process your claim. That is not true. You are under no obligation to provide the other driver’s insurance company with a statement. You should not give a recorded statement about a car accident without discussing it with a car accident lawyer near you.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with a skilled car accident attorney.

What are recorded statements?

After an accident, the other driver’s insurance company will likely contact you and ask you to make a recorded statement over the phone. Allegedly, these statements are used to gather all the facts and perspectives of the accident so that they can best determine how to help their client. However, that’s not the full story.

As a profit-seeking business, any insurance company is primarily interested in lowering its costs. One of the most common ways they do this is by underpaying on damages to people injured in accidents. They’ll try every trick in the book to get you to agree to their terms, avoid a lawsuit, and pay you as little as possible, regardless of what you truly deserve.

Here’s how they do that:

Your statement can be used against you

Any statement you make to the other party or their insurance company can be used against you during the claims process or at trial if it comes to that. Insurance companies are looking for ways to deny claims, and they can use your recorded statement to help accomplish that goal.

Insurance companies will try to find inconsistencies between the recorded statement and previous statements you made to police officers or in a deposition. These companies will also ask questions to trick you into responses that may ultimately hurt your claim.

The insurance adjusters will act like they are trying to help you when really they are trying to get you to say the things they need to hear in order to deny your claim.

John (Jack) Zinda

Founder / CEO

Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.

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How Should I Respond to Their Request?

They will likely be friendly and courteous when asking if they can record your statement, so be polite in declining their request. Hold your ground and do not let them convince you to give a recorded statement.

Even after you say no, they will try to persuade you that it is the right thing to do in order to move the claim process forward. Resist the temptation to acquiesce and stick to the basics: your name, address, phone number, and occupation.

Tell the insurance adjuster that you will make a written statement at a later date. Try not to share many details about the accident, unless you have discussed this with a knowledgeable car accident attorney.

Neil Solomon

Partner

Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.

Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation

What if My Insurance Company Asks for a Recorded Statement?

If it is your insurance company that wants a recorded statement, your policy might require you to comply.

Before giving the statement, it is appropriate to ask the insurance adjuster to point out the language in the contract you signed that requires this. And no matter what, it’s never a bad idea to speak with a car accident lawyer before you say anything on the record.

Jason Aldridge

Attorney

Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.

Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation

Get Help From an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

At Zinda Law Group, our car accident attorneys have helped thousands of auto injury victims recover compensation for damages related to a crash, including medical bills, property damage, loss of income, pain and suffering, and much more.

We will fight tirelessly to protect your legal rights, and as one of our clients, you will pay nothing unless we achieve a favorable settlement, judgment, or verdict.

Call Zinda Law Group today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our skilled car accident lawyers.

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