If you or somebody you care about has sustained an injury caused by the actions of another party, you will likely be able to recover compensation from an insurance settlement. However, securing this compensation can be challenging. Insurance carriers are notoriously difficult to deal with, and they may make you think that you have to give a recorded statement. Here, we want to discuss whether or not you are required to give a recorded statement to insurance carriers as well as some steps you can take to help ensure a smooth settlement process.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
Insurance carriers are going to want to get a recorded statement from you. This includes your own insurance carrier as well as the insurance carriers of any other party involved in an accident or injury. In fact, it is not uncommon for the at-fault party apostrophe as insurance carrier to call very soon after an accident occurs and make it seem like an urgent need that you give a recorded statement right away or your claim could be jeopardized.
Yes, insurance carriers require policyholders to cooperate in the claims process. However, you are not required under the law to give a recorded statement to any insurance carrier.
The main reason that insurance carriers prefer a recorded statement is that it is typically faster than writing down a statement from a policyholder. However, when a person gives a recorded statement, they will do so quickly, and this leaves room for error.
Insurance carriers always look for mistakes made by individuals when giving a recorded statement, including deviation from prior statements about the accident, information about injuries that may not be consistent with previous reports, and general demeanor. If the insurance carriers can poke holes in a person’s story, and if they can get these holes recorded, they will use this in an attempt to lower the total compensation payout.
What You Can do to Help Your Case
The number one thing that you can do to help your claim is to contact a skilled Philadelphia personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. When you work with an attorney, you will have an advocate by your side who will handle all communication and negotiations with the insurance carriers.
If you do find yourself giving an account of the incident to the insurance carriers involved, there are some things that you should say and do:
- State clearly that you do not want to be recorded. You need to make it very clear to the insurance carrier that you do not consent to being recorded when giving your statement.
- Stick to the facts of the case. Stick to the facts of the case as you know them. Do not assume anything or speculate about what you think may have happened.
- Stay calm and remain polite. You should remain calm and polite with the insurance claims adjusters, even if you are aggravated about the totality of the incident. Remember, these are individuals responsible for paying out your claim, so you may as well pretend to get along with them.
- Ask for the insurance claims adjuster’s name and phone number. You need to get the name and contact information of any insurance claims adjuster or employee you speak to. This helps ensure they know that they are being held accountable.