Why You Should Avoid Giving the Insurance Adjuster a Recorded Statement

If you file a car accident claim, the insurance adjuster will probably reach out and ask for a statement fairly soon after you commence the proceedings. While giving them a rundown of what happened and explaining how you were hurt in the process might seem innocuous enough, it could jeopardize your case in the long run.

At the end of the day, carriers want to protect their bottom line. As such, they’re always looking for reasons to devalue those claims that they can’t outright deny. Oftentimes, they find these reasons in the recorded statements they obtain from the injured parties themselves.

If you’re wondering how saying something on record could hurt your case, read on. Here are some of the biggest issues doing so can cause:

1. Your Version of Events Could Turn out to Be Untrue

Your memory is notoriously unreliable, especially when it comes to recounting traumatic events. Put another way, no matter how certain you feel about the details that led to the crash, there’s a chance you’re misremembering them.

While you should share everything with your legal team, discussing what you think happened with the opposing party opens the door for them to challenge your credibility. If something you say on record ends up being inaccurate, your entire claim could crumble before it even gets off the ground.

2. Your Condition Could Get Considerably Worse Before It Gets Better

Divulging your injuries to the insurance adjuster before you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) is a recipe for disaster. Complications could arise while you’re still being treated, but you won’t be compensated for them if you’ve already “locked in” the extent of the damages by discussing your condition with the opposing party.

3. You Could Waive the Opposing Party of Liability Inadvertently

Depending on what you say and how you say it, your statement could essentially waive the opposing party of liability. Worse, you could inadvertently assume some or all of the blame yourself.

Since insurance adjusters have all kinds of tactics for getting claimants to admit fault (even when they didn’t actually play a role in the wreck), it’s best to avoid corresponding with them at all. Thankfully, if you enlist help from a resourceful personal injury attorney, you won’t have to.

A seasoned lawyer can handle virtually every aspect of your claim, including crafting your statement. When the times does come to give one, your attorney will make sure what you say contributes to the strength of your claim, so you can pursue the maximum payout possible.

Discuss Your Case with a Car Accident Attorney in Stuart

If you want to file a car accident claim in Florida, turn to the resourceful team at Donaldson & Weston. Through sheer tenacity and an unwavering commitment to our clients, we have secured more than $100 million in successful settlements and judgements. To schedule a free case review with a car accident lawyer in Stuart, call 772-266-5555 or fill out our Online Contact Form.