Scott Distasio discusses the recorded statement that the insurance company will want you to make.
Some Information About Recorded Statements for Insurance Companies
After an accident, insurance companies often ask for a recorded statement. A recorded statement is when the insurance adjuster asks you questions about how the accident happened and the extent of your injuries. Everything that is said is recorded. At first this sounds like a good idea. And if the insurance company was really trying to help you, it would be. Unfortunately, however, the insurance company’s real purpose is to try to use the information to pay as little as possible on your claim. It is not to help you. If you do not believe me, just ask the insurance company if you can take a recorded statement of their insured, the person that hit you. I will bet they refuse.
How do they use the information against you. They ask questions that you are not prepared to answer in hopes you will guess wrong.
Lets say for example, that you were injured because your car was T-boned by a car that turned in front of you The adjuster asks in a recorded statement "how long before impact did you see the car in front of you"—If you had time to think about it, you would have answered about ½ of a second. However, because you were nervous and not prepared you might guess 10 seconds thinking that was a short period of time. The truth is, 10 seconds in an auto accident may very well have been enough time to avoid the oncoming car. The insurance company will then use this recorded statement to argue that you were either fully responsible for the accident or at least had some responsibility.
I am not saying you should never give a recorded statement. There are times you should. It’s just that if you do give a recorded statement, you should have the advice and counsel of a lawyer before you do.