Do I have to give a recorded statement to the insurance company?

Do I have to give a recorded statement to the insurance company?

No. You do not.

This is one of the most common misconceptions after a car accident in California — and one of the most damaging when acted on incorrectly.

You are required by your own insurance policy to cooperate with your own insurer after an accident. That cooperation requirement may include providing a statement to your own insurance company depending on the terms of your policy.

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. None. At any point. Ever.

The reason insurance adjusters ask for recorded statements is straightforward. A recorded statement creates a permanent verbatim record of everything you said — including things you said before you fully understood your injuries, before you had seen a doctor, and before you understood what your case might be worth. That record is then used to challenge the severity of your injuries, dispute the sequence of events, and limit what the insurance company pays you.

If you have already given a recorded statement before reading this, call Cohn & Swartzon LLP immediately at 888-480-3883. What was said can often be contextualized and addressed through the legal process — but the sooner an attorney is involved the better.If you have not yet given a recorded statement, do not. Politely decline and say that you will be represented by counsel and all communications should go through your attorney. Then call us. Our team is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week at legalhelp123.com. The consultation is always free.