Despite what insurance adjusters may claim, you are not required to give a recorded statement that could be used against you.
Fairly quickly after you are injured in an auto accident, the insurance adjuster for the at-fault driver may try to contact you and may ask you to give a recorded statement to facilitate the claim process. Read on for the reasons why giving a recorded statement is not wise, and why you should contact an experienced car accident attorney instead.
What is a Recorded Statement?
A recorded statement is an interview conducted by an insurance adjuster that is recorded as audio and later used to create a written document. This interview can occur in person or on the telephone.
Why You Are Not Required to Give a Recorded Statement
The insurance adjuster may imply or suggest that you must give a recorded statement for your claim to be paid. In most cases, this is not accurate, and you should speak to your attorney first before giving an oral report to the other driver’s insurance company.
How Your Recorded Statement Can Be Used Against You
One purpose of your recorded statement is to help the insurance company deny liability, or fault, for the accident, or reduce the value of your claim. Your statements can be used against you in court hearings or a trial, even if the recorded statement is not given under oath. There are many ways an insurance adjuster can use your words to their benefit, including:
Finding inconsistent statements
The adjuster will compare what you tell them to what you said to anybody else to find inconsistencies that can reduce your credibility.
Asking trick questions
The adjuster may ask you trick questions to get you to say what you do not really mean.
Finding incomplete answers
If you do not understand a question asked of you and you give an incomplete or “wrong” answer, those answers can be purposely misinterpreted.
Speaking to you before you know your injuries
If the adjuster speaks to you too soon after the accident, you may not have realized the extent to which you are injured yet. Your answers could then be unintentionally inaccurate and be used to make you seem untrustworthy later when you assert your injury claims.
What Should You Do If You Have Already Given a Recorded Statement?
If you have already given a recorded statement without realizing the risk of it, all hope for your case is not lost. Contact experienced car accident attorneys at Simon & Goldner for a consultation on what to do next. We have plenty of experience in working with insurance companies to get our clients what they deserve.
Let Simons & Goldner, P.A. Represent You
Simons & Goldner, P.A., located in Lutherville, MD, consists of two partners, Stevan G. Simons and Richard H. Goldner practicing primarily in personal injury, medical malpractice, Worker’s Compensation, and criminal law. The partners come with decades of experience assisting clients injured by the negligence of others or injured on the job. We serve clients in the Baltimore, Towson, Essex and Dundalk area and work closely with our clients to ensure that your case moves quickly and efficiently and that you get all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Initial consultations are available by phone or in-person and are free of charge. Contact us now to schedule a consultation, or call us today at 410-296-3110. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn for advice and updates.
