After a car accident, you will need to negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company to recover compensation. This will involve building your case and discussing terms with the provider.
To collect evidence of your injuries, insurance providers often ask for a statement. They may ask for you to give your statement in writing, or ask to record your statement on a voice recorder or video. It is crucial that you do not give the insurance company a recorded statement, especially without the guidance of our attorneys. A recorded statement can negatively impact your case.
Why an Insurance Adjuster May Request a Recorded Statement
In the midst of a car accident claim, most drivers, injury victims, and other witnesses are asked to provide statements. A statement gives everyone involved an account of what happened during the accident, and this information is used to establish liability.
However, an insurance adjuster may attempt to use the information provided in your statement against you. This can be done by asking leading questions or taking your statement out of context to serve their own purposes.
Information to Avoid Giving to an Insurance Company
When speaking to an insurance company, your goal is to present your case without implicating yourself. The insurance provider’s goal is to attempt to avoid paying your claim, so they will try to make you admit fault or minimize your claim. The most important thing to do is never admit fault, or say anything that could possibly be identified as an admission of fault.
When speaking to another driver’s insurance provider, remember to:
- Avoid admitting fault
- Not sign or record anything without the advice of our attorneys
- Be truthful
- Keep your statements brief
- Say “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember” if that is the truth — don’t make something up just to give an answer
How Can Scarzafava, Basdekis & Dadey, PLLC Help With Insurance Negotiations?
You have no obligation to provide the other driver’s insurance company with a statement. However, a statement can be helpful to you in some cases. If necessary, our attorneys can help you create a prepared statement that best reflects the events of your car accident and how the collision impacted you. We can also review any agreements the other driver’s team is attempting to negotiate and advise you on how to proceed.
To schedule a free case evaluation with the lawyers of Scarzafava, Basdekis & Dadey, PLLC, complete our contact form or call us at (607) 228-8404.