Giving a Recorded Statement After a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, you may be asked to provide a recorded statement so you can process your claim sooner. While the insurance provide will likely want to resolve the claim as quickly as possible, the recorded statement often serves the role of helping the insurance adjuster offer as little compensation as possible. In some cases, they may even use a recorded statement as a justification to deny your claim.
1. Work with an Auto Accident Lawyer
Your claim will not be hurt if you refuse to give a recorded statement. Rather than risk having your claim denied, ask the insurance provider about what their policy is regarding recorded statements. Then, contact an auto accident attorney for advice on how to handle this situation.
If you do plan on giving a recorded statement, your auto accident attorney can inform you of what you should and shouldn't say. For example, anything you say about the pain you are experiencing can hurt you in the future. For example, you may experience pain that is minor initially and becomes more severe as time passes. However, once you state that your pain isn't that bad, this can be used as an excuse to reject any future claims that your pain has become more severe due to the injuries caused by the accident.
Note that If you do not know what you are being asked, make sure to ask for clarification. If you still do not understand, you can always politely refuse to answer. Any answers you do give should be consistent because the insurance provider will look for any inconsistencies as an excuse to claim that you are lying about your injuries.
3. What to Do Instead of Giving a Recorded Statement
Whether or not you give a recorded statement, you should work with your auto accident attorney to calculate how much damages you have suffered. You should also gather evidence to prove that the accident was the result of the other party. Then, you and your accident attorney can write a demand letter that will request compensation for all damages such as medical bills, future medical bills, lost wages, lost future wages, and pain and suffering. Even though the insurance provider might not accept the demand letter, you will be able to use the demand letter as a starting point for a series of negotiations.
Learn more about handling your claim by contacting an auto accidents lawyer.
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