If you have been involved in a car accident in Houston or elsewhere in Texas, you will probably receive a phone call from an insurance adjuster sooner or later. In fact, the insurance company might contact you within days or even hours after the accident.

Because you don’t deal with insurance companies every day, it’s understandable that you would be unsure about what – if anything – you should say to an insurance adjuster. You’re probably wondering what to do if the other driver’s insurance company wants a statement.

As a general rule, the less you say, the better – especially when talking to the company that covers the other driver. You should wait to provide a recorded statement until you have help from a qualified car accident lawyer like those at Ben Bronston & Associates.

Why should you be careful about talking to an insurance adjuster? It’s simple. The insurance adjuster is looking out for the interests of the insurance company, not yours. In the course of gathering information about the crash, they hope they can get you to say something they can use to minimize what they have to pay you, or better yet for them, outright deny your claim.

To help you preserve your right to fair compensation after a crash, we have put together some tips for how to handle an insurance adjuster’s request for a recorded statement.

Why Does the Adjuster Want a Recorded Statement?

Part of an insurance adjuster’s job is to investigate the cause of an accident to determine who was at fault and which driver’s insurance company is liable for the injuries and property damage the accident caused. The adjuster is also tasked with determining how much the insurance company believes a claimant should receive for their losses.

An adjuster’s ultimate goal is to make a claim go away while paying as little as possible, and ideally nothing at all. The adjuster’s loyalty is to the insurance company, and the insurance company profits by paying out as little as it can on claims.

The adjuster is looking for any reason to shift the blame away from the driver covered by the insurance company. If the adjuster can find a reason to argue that you were responsible for the crash, they will pursue it.

Even if it is clear that the other driver was at fault and their insurance company is on the hook, the adjuster will still try to find a way to minimize what they have to pay you.

Simply put, the adjuster wants a recorded statement in hopes that you will say something – or your words can be twisted into saying something – that will harm your claim.

Consequences of Giving a Recorded Statement

Considering the stress that comes in the aftermath of an accident, your thoughts are probably not as sharp as normal. Since you don’t regularly talk to insurance adjusters, you likely find the process intimidating and confusing. Knowing that your conversation is being recorded only adds to the discomfort.

These factors mean it is quite easy to say something that might not take all of the facts into account. You could get tripped up by a question the adjuster asks in order to get you to say something you don’t really mean or something that isn’t exactly true. Some crafty adjusters pose questions in a way that sounds compassionate, and your natural inclination may be to tell them what they want to hear or to agree to statements that aren’t quite right.

The problem with a recorded statement is that a misspoken sentence or a statement out of context could be used against you later when you try to recover fair compensation. You might not get an opportunity to clarify what you meant or follow up with more information.

Attorneys like those at Ben Bronston & Associates deal with insurance adjusters every day in our law practice. We are wise to their tactics and we know how to deal with their efforts to shift blame or minimize damages.

What to Say to an Insurance Adjuster and How to Say It

Although the best practice is to decline to give a recorded statement and refer an insurance adjuster to your attorney, there are some circumstances in which you might feel as if you need to provide basic information to an adjuster. For example, it is often necessary to report an accident to the company that covers your vehicle within a reasonable time after the crash.

Here are some tips for taking to the insurance company:

• Be polite and respectful, but don’t treat the adjuster like a friend.
• Calm your nerves as best you can to avoid sounding angry or confrontational. A business-like attitude is the best approach.
• Let the representative know upfront that the scope of what you will discuss is limited.
• Write down the representative’s first and last name, the insurance company they work for, their position, who the insurer represents, their phone number and address.
• Provide only limited information about yourself, such as your name, address, phone number and other contact information. Do not discuss private information about your life such as your salary, your medical history, your family situation and other details.
• Do not discuss your injuries or describe your treatments or how you are recovering from your injuries.
• Do not agree to a quick settlement offer made over the phone. The insurance company may pressure you into accepting an offer in hopes of making your claim go away quickly and cheaply. Even though the amount may at first appear appealing, it is almost certainly not the full amount you deserve. Wait until you know the full extent of your injuries and their effect on your work and life before considering an offer – and most importantly, let an experienced attorney advise you about whether to take an offer.
• Decline to give a recorded statement. In most situations, you are under no obligation to give a recorded statement. Tell the insurance representative that you are not prepared to offer a statement at this time.

Don’t Deal With Insurance Adjusters Alone. Let Us Help You!

Ben Bronston & Associates is here to help. Let us handle the insurance adjusters while you focus on getting better. We will see your case through, fighting to the end to uncover all of the money that’s available and to put it in your pocket.

Contact Ben Bronston & Associates if you’ve been injured in a car accident. Don’t miss out on money you deserve – money Ben Bronston & Associates can seek for you.