Should You Give The Insurance Company A Recorded Statement About Your Injury?

31 March 2021
 Categories: Law, Blog

Share

If you were involved in an accident that resulted in an injury, you'll likely be contacted by an insurance company and asked to give a recorded statement. This is a way that insurance companies will try to get you on the record about the accident, your injuries, and things of that nature. Sometimes it is a good idea to give recorded statements, and other times it is best to stay silent. Here is what you need to know about if you should give that recorded statement. 

When To Give Statements

One time when you will definitely want to give a statement is when you are contacted by your own insurance company. This is because when you signed the contract with your insurance company you agreed that you would give then recorded statements about accidents that you were involved in. If you refuse to give a recorded statement, then it is possible that they could cancel your insurance policy and any claims that you are making. This may be necessary if you need to use uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. 

The other time that it is worth giving a recorded statement is if you have minor injuries and the responsible party's insurance company is having trouble determining liability. If you know that your medical bills are going to be minor, such as being treated for stitches with no other complications, then it may be worth giving a statement to help speed the process along. This can also help you recover property damage faster, such as if you were rear-ended in a car accident where the fault clearly is on the other person.

When Not To Give Statements

If you are being contacted by the responsible party's insurance company and you are dealing with a major injury, it will be in your best interest not to give a statement. Consult with your lawyer first about giving a statement so that you can make sure you are not going to say something that will hurt your case.

You can also tell the insurance company that you can give a statement at a later date. You do not want to be caught off guard and give a statement without being properly prepared, and you may want to take the time to write out your statement so that you can carefully construct the words that you use. The last thing that you want to do is accidentally say something that could hurt your case because you accidentally said the wrong thing. 

For more information, contact a personal injury attorney.