If you were injured in an accident, you may be contacted by the insurance company for the party that is responsible for those injuries. You might wonder whether you should give a recorded statement to an insurance company. Before you ever talk to an insurance company, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer in San Antonio.
Why Insurance Companies Ask for Recorded Statements After an Accident
Insurance adjusters may ask for recorded statements for various reasons. Adjusters are assigned to cases. They must investigate the accident review coverage and determine if the accident falls within the policy’s purview. Having a recorded statement is easier for adjusters because they can refer back to the recording to make sense of the claim.
Insurance adjusters may also be trained to ask for a recorded statement. They might not even be aware why these interviews are required.
However, recorded statements can be dangerous for claimants who are simply seeking to recover fair compensation after someone else’s negligence injured them.
Dangers of Giving a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company
The first thing you should know when dealing with insurance adjusters is that they are not your friends. They may appear friendly, but they work for the insurance company, whose only goal is to resolve your claim for as little as possible to protect its wealth. Insurance adjusters are often trained to try to settle claims for as little money as possible and possibly deny more claims to save the insurance company money.
Some of the dangers of giving insurance companies recorded statements include:
You Could Say Something That Damages Your Claim
You might be answering the insurance adjuster’s claims. Then, you receive a denial or a low settlement offer. This could be due to something you said during the brief interview, such as:
- You agreed with the insurance adjuster that you were glad you were not seriously injured.
- You said you were sorry for the accident.
- You said you were not injured, but you later found out that you were.
- Your version of events, as you describe them in the recorded statement, differs from your statements on the accident report, which calls your credibility and memory into question.
- You say something that is later contradicted by scientific evidence, such as the speed you were traveling.
Insurance adjusters are trained at tricking claimants. Sometimes, they contact an accident victim while they are in a vulnerable position, such as in the hospital or while receiving medication, so that they can try to get them to say something that they can later use against them.
Your Statement Could Be Misinterpreted
Your statement could be misinterpreted by the insurance adjuster, a judge, or a jury. Without the proper context, your statements could be misconstrued to suggest you were lying or that your injuries were not as severe as they were.
You Can Refer the Insurance Company to Your Lawyer for Help
You don’t have to talk to the insurance company yourself. You can hire an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Antonio who can handle communications for you. This can help safeguard your claim and prevent you from saying anything that could harm your personal injury claim. George Salinas Injury Lawyers has extensive experience handling personal injury claims and insurance companies. Let us handle your claim while you focus on your recovery.