If you are injured in an accident caused by another party, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. The at-fault party’s insurance company pays most car accident injury claims.
You may receive a phone call from their insurance claims adjuster right away. While the adjuster will likely be polite and empathetic, remember that they are not your friend. Insurance company adjusters work hard to find reasons to deny or devalue your claim and will use anything you say against you if possible.
When they call you, they may ask you to provide a recorded statement. However, you are not required to give a recorded statement immediately. And while you may be tempted to comply to help speed along the claims process, doing so is not usually in your best interest.
To protect your rights and help recover maximum compensation, you should consult an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Reasons Not to Give a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Company
Insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible and look for ways to help them deny or devalue your claim. One of the ways they do this is by asking for a recorded statement from you shortly after the accident.
Some reasons you should not provide a recorded statement immediately after an accident include:
- Blame shifting. The insurance adjuster may try to get you to admit fault or partial fault. Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule, as outlined in Oklahoma Statutes Annotated § 23-13. Under this statute, more than one party may be found at fault, and if you are partially at fault, the insurance company will not need to pay as much for your damages. And if the insurance company can show that you are more than fifty percent at fault, they will not have to pay you anything. Without realizing it, you may respond to the adjuster’s questions in a way that could shift the blame to you rather than the true at-fault party.
- Minimizing your injuries. Insurance adjusters may ask seemingly innocent questions, such as “Are you okay?” or “How are you doing today?”, hoping you will respond in a way that can be used to suggest your damages are not as severe as you claim. These are only two of the numerous ways they may try to twist your words to minimize your injuries and help devalue your claim.
- Pressuring you to settle quickly. Many insurance adjusters will offer a fast settlement that is much lower than the actual value of your claim. They often use your vulnerability against you by contacting you soon after the accident when you are still shaken up and have not yet spoken with an OKC injury attorney.
What To Do Instead of Giving a Recorded Statement
To protect yourself and your right to recover the compensation you are owed, don’t immediately give the insurance company a recorded statement. Instead, take the following steps:
- Decline politely, but firmly. There is no need to argue with the insurance adjuster. Simply tell them that you do not wish to provide a recorded statement at this time. If they persist, advise them that your attorney will be handling all further communications.
- Immediately contact an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer with a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation. Your attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company and guide you through the claims process while protecting your rights.
- Work with your attorney to prepare a written statement to submit to the insurance company. A carefully drafted written statement leaves less room for mistakes and misinterpretations that an insurance company adjuster can attempt to use against you.
- With the help of your attorney, you should gather essential evidence to support your claim. Give your attorney any photographs or videos you took, contact information for witnesses, and other documentation related to your accident. Your attorney will also carefully investigate your accident to help uncover vital evidence.
Contact Warhawk Legal Today
If you were involved in an Oklahoma auto accident, you need to cooperate with the insurance company that will pay for your damages. However, you are not required to give a recorded statement. When an insurance adjuster contacts you shortly after an accident and asks for a recorded statement, they hope to uncover some evidence they can use to deny or devalue your claim. Don’t give them that evidence.
Instead, consult an experienced Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer with a proven record of recovering maximum compensation for their clients. At Warhawk Legal, we have the experience, skills, and resources to protect your rights and help you recover the full value of your damages.
Schedule a free consultation today by calling (405) 294-1243 or by completing the short form on our contact page. We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, and explaining your rights.