As soon as the at-fault party’s insurance company is notified of the accident, an insurance adjuster will be assigned to your case. Shortly after, the insurance adjuster will contact you to discuss the accident and damages. The insurance adjuster may try to pressure you to explain your version of the events in a recorded statement. But, most personal injury attorneys recommend that you put a statement in writing instead of agreeing to record it. What’s the difference? Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of written vs. recorded statements:
Recorded Statements
Insurance companies prefer that you provide recorded statements. Why? The insurance adjuster that is assigned to your case gets to control the conversation because he will be the one asking you questions. This means they can choose to focus on any aspect of the case that they are interested in, which they don’t have the opportunity to do if you submit a written statement. They also have the chance to ask you misleading questions in order to get you to make a statement that can be used against you later on in the case. Even something as minor as saying “I’m fine” when asked “How are you?” could be taken out of context and used against you.
An insurance adjuster will usually ask you to give the recorded statement during the initial phone call about your case. As a result, it’s very likely that you will not be prepared or know what you should avoid saying. This is another reason why insurance adjusters prefer recorded statements. By putting you on the spot, they may be able to get the information they need to lower the value of your claim.
Written Statements
Your personal injury attorney will probably prefer that you submit a written statement as opposed to giving a recorded statement. Why? An attorney can help you put your thoughts in writing and approve the statement before it is sent to the insurance company. He will prevent you from submitting a statement that is unclear or that contains information that you should not provide to the insurance company.
Car accident victims also don’t have to worry about answering questions if they choose a written statement. This gives you complete control over the tone and content of the statement.
If you have been injured, it’s important to contact an attorney before speaking to the insurance company. At Reisch Law Firm, we know exactly how to handle insurance adjusters who are not looking out for your best interest. Our team will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you recover the compensation that you deserve. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
