It can be hard to decide who to trust after an accident, fire, or natural disaster. Many people who contact you after an accident, including bill collectors or insurance claims adjusters, will not be in your best interest. You need to be able to communicate with your insurance adjuster effectively to protect your rights. Otherwise, you could receive less financial compensation.

What Is A Recorded Statement?

An insurance adjuster might ask for a recorded statement from you during initial conversations about an accident. The insurance company will hire a claims adjuster to review your case and make recommendations to the adjuster about whether to grant or deny you benefits. The adjuster will record your answers over the telephone during a recorded statement.

A claims adjuster may contact you as soon as possible after your accident. This is an intentional strategy. The adjuster wants you to be present before he or she can learn more about your accident and your injuries. An adjuster might ask for your permission to record or give a specific statement. You are not required to consent to this request by Florida law, so it is usually in your best interest to decline.

Why Is It Important Not To Give A Recorded Statement To An Insurance Company?

When asked to make a recorded statement, an agent of insurance or claims adjuster will always ask you to say no. To dispute your liability for damages, the claims adjuster may use what you have said against you. Insurers will use the recorded statement to trap you into saying false things, such as that your contribution to the property damage was you or that you only suffered minor losses.

After the adjuster has obtained a recorded statement, he/she can use the discrepancies in your account of events and the investigative findings to make you look unreliable as a witness. For example, if you assume you did not sustain any injuries in the accident and give a recorded statement to support this, you could be hurt if a doctor finds that you have delayed-onset symptoms.

How To Say No To A Recorded Statement

Even if an adjuster appears friendly or claims to be on your side, never say yes to a recorded declaration. Insurance adjusters are trained in how to get claimants to relax. You can state politely that you don’t wish to record a statement and will talk to an attorney about settling. You will instead send a written statement later. Before you communicate with the insurance company, you can read the written statement and fully comprehend the details of your claim.

What If You Already Made A Statement?

It could be more difficult to get fair compensation for your losses and injuries if you have already stated yes to the insurance adjuster. However, it won’t make it impossible. Even if you make a mistake in your recorded statement, a lawyer can help you to mitigate the damage and negotiate a fair settlement. An attorney can help you to understand the process of insurance.

An adjuster will have more chances to use your words against you the more you speak to them. Avoid narrative answers and avoid guessing or speculation about the accident. For assistance in protecting your rights as a victim, consult an attorney with Tampa insurance claims.

This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Ann is an insurance claim Lawyer. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation. Click here to learn more! The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.  Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.  This website contains links to other third-party websites.  Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.