Never give your car insurance company a recorded statement after an accident until you have consulted a car accident lawyer. It is likely your insurer will contact you about providing a recorded statement within a few days, so time is of the essence when it comes to consulting an attorney.
Your insurance company’s business model is predicated on pleasing shareholders and paying out as little as possible in claims. Insurance company representatives do not have your best interests at heart, even though you are a customer. Instead, they are trained to ask questions that may confuse a person or cause them to make misleading statements. The wording of such questions is designed to trick you, and adjusters know how to twist your words.
The New York City car accident lawyers at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green will help you devise a statement for your insurers. We also fight aggressively, so you receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries. While most claims are settled, we will take your case to court when necessary.
Telling the Truth
Many car accident victims think if they tell the truth about what happened in an accident, they will be fine. It is essential to tell the truth, and never lie about any of the circumstances about the collision. However, insurance adjusters are adept at seeking ways to manipulate any statement you make. For example, if you are not sure about the answer to a question and reply, “Maybe,” that becomes an affirmative. An attorney will let you know not only what to say, but what not to say. Often, the latter is more critical than the former.
Your Insurance Company
New York City personal injury lawyers know that a person must give a statement to their insurer. Besides the recorded statement, it is also wise to avoid giving your insurer a verbal statement only after speaking with a lawyer.
If the insurance adjuster pushes you to make a recorded statement, politely but firmly tell them you are consulting a lawyer first. Doing so is within your rights. This also indicates to the insurer that you are not a customer they can push around.
The Other Driver’s Insurer
Just as is it inadvisable to give a recorded statement to your own insurance company after an accident without legal counsel, that proves doubly true regarding a statement given to the other’s driver’s insurance carrier. The only reason the other driver’s carrier wants that recorded statement is so that they can pick through it and try to reduce the amount of your claim or deny it entirely.
Inconsistencies
As far as the insurance companies are concerned, the primary point of a crash victim giving a recorded statement is to look for inconsistencies with any other statements. You likely gave the police who appeared at the accident scene an account unless you were too severely injured. The same holds for EMTs answering the call. If there are inconsistencies in these accounts and your recorded statement, the insurance adjusters will pounce on them.
What you said in the aftermath of a traumatic car accident may not exactly match what is said in the recorded statement. You are possibly in shock after the crash or filled with adrenalin. When statements are given days, weeks, or even months apart, minor inconsistencies may occur.
Contact us at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green for a free consultation
If you were involved in a serious car accident caused by another party’s negligence or recklessness, contact a personal injury attorney at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green as soon as possible.
We offer a complimentary consultation. Call or text us 24/7 to arrange an appointment or fill out our online form. After reviewing your claim, we can craft an appropriate statement for your insurance company that will protect your rights.
We work on a contingency basis. That means there is never a fee unless we win. Serving all five boroughs and Long Island. Hablamos Español.
