The Insurance Company Wants A Statement – What Should I Say?

If you have found yourself in an accident, the insurance company likely wants a recorded statement. Insurance companies use a recorded statement for an insurance claim to better comprehend what transpired in the accident and figure out the amount of coverage required. h. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company without first talking to a personal injury car accident lawyer. You need to be very careful when giving this statement. If you are not careful, the statement you give will be recorded and treated as fact, which may be used against you in prosecuting your claim for damages. This is very difficult to navigate, so we recommend that you have a skilled personal injury attorney retained before you make this statement.

Should I Give an Insurance Company a Statement?

In the aftermath of an automobile accident, victims are sometimes urged to get in touch with their insurance companies. Certain insurers may request a recorded statement and will record word-for-word phone calls made during the reporting process. Providing a recorded statement is one of the most common errors people make following a collision, and it can seriously undermine the value of your injury claim.

Giving a Statement to the Opposing Party’s Insurance Company

The ideal course of action is to not give a statement at all. You are not legally required to give a statement, no matter how aggressively they badger you.

The aim of any insurance company of another party is to gather evidence against you. Impartiality does not exist in this dance, and it is best to consult an attorney before engaging with another party’s insurance company. They will ask about the events leading up to the accident and your injuries. The questions may seem innocuous, but they are heavily laced and poised in such a way to ensure that the answers can be manipulated.

Insurance companies always have a financial stake in defending both their own and their client’s interests. Their goal is to negotiate the lowest possible settlement for your personal injury claim.

Giving a statement may result in the insurance company :

• Lowballing the settlement offer.

If you haven’t even been examined by a doctor, there is no way you are in a position to give a proper account of your injuries. Do not make guesses, as this could be fatal. Downplaying your injuries could be ammunition for a low ball offer.

• Assembling evidence against you.

Insurance adjusters are employed and paid with the goal of settling your claim for the least amount possible. In an effort to undermine and undervalue your claim, they will make an effort to persuade you to reveal details about earlier accidents and other actions.

• Obtaining inaccurate or inconsistent estimations or information.

The information you provided to law authorities at the scene and in witness accounts will be compared to everything you say in the recorded statement. Any discrepancies between what you say at the site of the accident and what you later tell the insurance company will be pursued.

Submitting a Statement to Your Own Insurance Company

Unfortunately, insurance firms may profess to defend their policyholders, but in reality, they sometimes put their own self-interests ahead of that of their customers. Caution should be exercised when reporting to your own insurance company as well.

Follow these tips when speaking to your insurance company:

• Declare that you have been hurt
• Avoid making a recorded statement if possible.
• Avoid speculation and stick to the facts

You must give your insurance policy number, full name, and policy expiration date when filing an automobile accident report. Following your identification by the insurance, you might offer:

• The accident’s date and time
• A general account of the collision
• The number of persons involved in the incident
• Driver’s licenses, license plate numbers, and insurance information of those involved

What to do After a Car Accident to Support Your Claim

1. Get medical attention immediately after an accident if you are injured.
2. Be sure to capture the accident, event, or crash in images.
3. Report the collision to the police.
4. Speak with a Rhode Island, personal injury lawyer.

Can I Represent Myself in this Claim?

It’s typically not a good idea to represent oneself when dealing with an insurance company and its highly skilled liability adjusters. Self-represented parties frequently have no idea what their injury claim is really worth. The insurance company will take advantage of your inexperience. Best to retain the services of a qualified car accident attorney who handles these types of cases on a daily basis.

Remember, there is no obligation for an accident victim to provide a recorded statement to the other side’s insurance company. After a collision, if you need to communicate with an insurance agent, always make your comments succinct and direct. Better yet, contact an attorney from Louis W. Grande. We want to advise you at all stages of the process and ensure that you are properly compensated. Make an appointment to speak with us today!