If you were injured in an accident, insurance companies may contact you right away to try to get you to give a recorded statement. It is important that you know this is not for your benefit.It is important that you know this is not for your benefit. Below, we discuss how giving a statement may affect your claim and certain details that are best to avoid when talking to insurance companies.
If you have been injured in an accident, the Fort Worth personal injury attorneys at Anderson & Cummings are available to discuss your potential legal options during a free, no obligation consultation.
Why Insurance Companies Ask for a Recorded Statement
Insurance companies ask for a recorded statement to find inconsistencies between the statement and other evidence (accident photos, eyewitness accounts, medical records, etc.) so they can deny or devalue your claim.
Accident victims typically do not benefit from giving recorded statements. For this reason, many personal injury lawyers will advise their clients not to give a recorded statement.
How a Recorded Statement May Affect Your Claim
A recorded statement can negatively affect your claim in the following ways:
- You give an incomplete or inaccurate statement – In the immediate aftermath of an accident, you might be confused or not remember things clearly. If the insurance company gets a recorded statement from you quickly, you may provide incomplete or inaccurate information.
- You provide evidence that is not corroborated – You may say something in a recorded statement that is later contradicted by reliable evidence. For example, you may say that you were not injured but then wake up the next day in excruciating pain. Medical records may show that you suffered an injury but your statements to the contrary may put your claim in jeopardy.
- You are led to say things that are not true – Insurance adjusters are trained trained to try to lead you into saying things that minimize the value of your claim
What You Should Avoid When Giving a Statement
When talking to insurance company representatives, it is important to remember that anything you say may be used against you. This is why it is important that you know how to talk the insurance company and what you should avoid, such as:
- Giving away too much information – Stick to answering only the questions that are asked and only as fully as necessary. Insurance adjusters might try to lead you into making statements that put the blame on you, minimize your injuries or otherwise damage your claim.
- Admitting fault – Even if you believe that you may have done something wrong to cause the accident, do not voluntarily offer this information. You likely do not know all of the factors involved in the case, such as whether the other driver was distracted or impaired.
- Admitting you did not sustain injuries – Adrenaline often masks the injuries that a person sustains, so many accident victims do not know that they were injured until days later. Avoid saying that you were not injured if this has not been medically verified.
- Lie about or exaggerate your injuries – It is important that you stick with the facts because making false claims may hurt your claim.
- Guessing – Sometimes accident victims get nervous when interrogated by insurance adjusters. They may feel that they have to give an answer to questions they do not have answers to, which may greatly affect their claim.
Contact an Experienced Attorney for Assistance Today
It is important that you speak to a licensed attorney before giving a recorded statement. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Anderson & Cummings are familiar with insurance company tactics and know how to protect the value of an insurance claim.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.