Should you give a recorded statement to the insurance company? We’ll cut straight to it: No. Generally, you shouldn’t. Recorded statements are taped question and answer conversations with an insurance adjuster, usually taken over the phone, where the questions revolve around the accident in question. On the surface, recorded statements can seem harmless, however, they are often a tactic used by the insurance company to trick an injured party and devalue the claim.
One of the most important things to understand about recorded statements is that they are not required in order to process your claim. The insurance companies like to create an illusion that the statements are necessary in order for them to continue working on your claim. This assertion is false. A majority of automobile claims can be fully resolved without the injured party ever giving a statement to the insurance company. Remember, at the end of the day, the insurance company’s goal is to pay the least amount of money on a claim as possible. Recorded statements are just one of the tools they use in order to devalue claims.
Since the insurance company likes to do the recorded statements as soon as possible after an accident, the extensiveness of your injuries might be unknown at that time. For example, you might believe that you just have a back sprain or neck sprain but then, later on, discover you actually have a hairline fracture in your arm. The insurance company will often try to use what you told them as your original injuries to discount any additional injuries later discovered since you did not previously disclose them to the insurance company.
Additionally, the adjuster will compare your statement to any other statements given to the police officer or any other person in order to try to establish inconsistency in your story. This is troublesome because any statement by you can be used against you in court hearings, even if they are not taken under oath.
Already given a recorded statement to the insurance company? Don’t feel like you have ruined your case. The best next step is to cease contact with the insurance company and contact our office instead. We’ll take over and use our expertise to smooth over any potential issues caused by your recorded statement for your personal injury claim.
Connect with us
