Being a victim of a car accident is traumatic -financially, mentally, and physically. From injuries to draining mental health, car accidents can cause immense damage, which may not be reversible sometimes. However, when the accident was caused due to someone else’s negligence, you can hold them accountable for their carelessness and file for compensation for the damages you incurred from the accident. Immediately after filing a claim, the insurance company will try to manipulate you to give an official statement describing the accident and injuries.
Even if the insurance adjuster appears to be concerned about your injuries and the loss, they will work in the company’s best interest and use multiple tactics to settle your claim for less or even reject your claim. Immediately after the accident, the insurance company may call you and influence you into saying you are “fine” or ask for a statement.
Before giving an official statement (written or recorded), you must consult a good car accident lawyer who can help examine the estimated value of your claim and guide you on the dos and don’ts. Lawyers from Correll Law Firm ensure that you get the rightful compensation without spending half of the amount paid to the lawyer, meaning they offer affordable legal help for your claim.
Should you give your recorded statement?
The clear answer is no. Unless you get a chance to speak to your lawyer, do not give out any statement (in any form) to your or the at-fault party’s insurance company. The prime reason is that the insurance adjuster will use your statement against you, and even if your tone appears slightly different, it can affect your claim and the compensation amount.
For instance, if you are questioned about your injuries and say you are doing fine, the insurance adjuster will use it against you to show that you are exaggerating your injuries. The wrong interpretation can harm the claim, and once the official statement is given, you can do nothing to take your words back.
Often the company reaches out to you before you even get a chance to get legal help. This is because the company will try to use your lack of legal knowledge against you and prove that you were at fault, so they do not have to pay more compensation.
Will declining to give a statement affect my claim?
The insurance adjusters cannot force you to the statement. The sole purpose of making a statement is to study the entire accident and determine the at-fault party and the extent of the damage. You can politely decline to give the statement and tell them that you need to talk to your lawyer first. Declining the statement will not affect your claim. A lawyer will study the case and help you with the stated procedure. It would be in your best interest to give a written statement to avoid any mistake.
