Should I Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance?

Q: Should I give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster?

A: NO!

If you have been in a car accident, you are probably dealing with two different insurance companies – your own insurance company, which is paying your medical bills through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, and the liability insurance company (the insurance company for the driver who hit you).

You should never give a recorded statement to the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. It will be used against you. Insurance companies will use that recording to reduce the amount of money they pay you. You have the right to say no to the insurance company.

You will need to decide if you want to give a recorded statement to your PIP adjuster. If you do not give one, they do not have to keep paying your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, which many people need to seek necessary medical care. The truth is that you will usually need to give a recorded statement to your own insurance if they ask for it.

The Rules of Evidence usually only allow an injured person’s recorded statement to the insurance adjuster to be used to contradict things that the injured person says at trial.

We have seen a person’s truthful recorded statement used against them many times. We have never seen it help. Giving a recorded statement to insurance for the other person’s insurance is a bad idea, and if they insist, consider hiring an attorney – your attorney can often walk you through the process.

Many people will be too modest giving their statement by not complaining about their injuries. Many will say when asked if they are injured, “Oh, I am fine, I guess.” People say that because so as not to complain, but the truth is that you really are hurt. The insurance company will use that against you later. It is best to talk to a personal injury lawyer before ever giving any statement.