Should You Give a Recorded Statement to Insurance After an Accident?

Video Transcript

If you’re wondering whether you should give a recorded statement to an insurance company after a car accident or a car wreck, the best answer is be very careful. Insurance adjusters often ask for recorded statements early, sometimes before you even know the full extent of your injuries. And even if you’re telling the truth, a recorded statement can be used later to minimize your personal injury claim. Small details, imperfect wording, or “I’m fine” comments made in the first few days can get taken out of context and used against you. Here’s a good rule of thumb: your job is to get medical care and protect yourself, not to help the insurance company build its case. Now, if it’s your own auto insurance company, your policy may require cooperation in certain ways, so you don’t want to ignore them. If it’s the other driver’s insurance company, you can usually decline a recorded statement until you’ve gotten legal guidance. A quick call with a trial attorney early on can prevent avoidable mistakes.