The many busy roadways, road construction projects, bicyclists, pedestrians, and distracted motorists may make a car accident seem inevitable, but accident victims are sometimes overwhelmed with the claims process that follows an accident. Before you have even truly started to cope with your injuries from a car accident, the other driver’s insurance may start contacting you and asking for certain forms, documentation, and maybe even a recorded statement. However, before you start following all of the insurance adjustor’s instructions, it’s worth asking yourself if the insurance company really needs that information or if they even have your best interests at heart.
Don’t Be Fooled! Giving a Recorded Statement Probably Isn’t Necessary After a Wreck
In California, most accident victims are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company, and they certainly aren’t required to do so without an attorney. Before you agree to give a recorded statement, or even a statement over the phone or in person, consider that:
- You are generally not required to give a recorded statement.
- Anything you say during the recorded statement could be used against you later—even comments that seemed harmless to you at the time.
- You will probably not have access to similar recorded statements from the other driver.
- The insurance company will specifically be looking for information that could help them minimize your claims of injury and other damages.
- Giving the insurance company an unnecessary recorded statement is unlikely to benefit you, and much more likely to hurt you in the long run.
After you have been hurt in an accident, don’t allow insurance companies to pressure you into giving them information they don’t need. Contact our office directly for immediate answers to questions, or visit our YouTube Channel for more information from our Santa Monica personal injury team.
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