Should You Give an Insurance Adjuster a Recorded Statement After a Crash?
An insurance adjuster may ask to record a telephone interview shortly after a collision. Before agreeing, determine which insurance company is asking and why.
A liability insurer and your own insurer are not in the same position
If the adjuster represents the other driver, you generally do not have the same contractual relationship with that insurer that you have with your own carrier. Your own policy may contain cooperation, examination, documentation, or statement requirements, so a request from your own insurer should be evaluated under the actual policy.
Recorded statements can become evidence
Statements about speed, distances, visibility, pain, prior injuries, medical care, or what happened immediately before impact may later be compared against photographs, medical records, deposition testimony, and other evidence.
Do not guess
If you do not know an answer, say that you do not know. Do not estimate distances, speeds, or timing simply because an adjuster asks for a number. Separate what you personally observed from what someone later told you.
Review broad authorization requests separately
A recorded statement request may be accompanied by medical, employment, or other authorization forms. Review the scope before signing. A request for information does not mean every proposed authorization must be accepted in the form presented.
Preserve your own evidence first
Before a detailed interview, collect the police information, photographs, witness contacts, claim correspondence, and other available evidence.
Glendale Law Group handles disputed automobile and insurance claims throughout Southern California. Call (818) 745-0101 for a free consultation before giving a recorded statement when you are uncertain about the request.
This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and rights depend on the facts, applicable law, and insurance policy language.
