Should I Speak With the Involved Insurance Company?

NO.  You are not required to talk with the other party’s insurance company when you’ve been involved in an accident.

You should never give a statement to the other side without consulting with an attorney first.  If you are contacted, be polite, but decline to speak to the insurance representative.

What is a recorded statement?

Insurance adjusters are trained to contact the potentially injured victims of accidents involving their insured.  The purpose of that communication is to garner a recorded statement of your account of the incident and your injuries.  Oftentimes, claimants believe they must give this statement to the adjuster in order to be compensated for their injuries.  Unfortunately, victims oftentimes unwittingly make comments that later hurt their case.

Insurance companies’ claims adjusters are professional negotiators, with extensive experience in using techniques to persuade you to disclose information that may compromise your claim, including discouraging you from retaining legal counsel.  Claims adjusters are hired because they sound persuasive over the phone, but rarely are victims compensated fairly without legal representation.  If contacted by an insurance company other than your own, simply respond by saying something polite like, “Thank you for calling but I am not prepared to discuss this matter with you at this time.”

You should also contact your own insurance company to notify them of your involvement in an accident.  You may also have benefits under your auto policy, including medical payments coverage and uninsured motorist coverage, that are applicable to your claim.  It is important to notify your insurance company of the potential claim because nearly every policy contains a “notice requirement” in which your claim may be denied if the insurer is not notified promptly of the claim.