Do I Have to Give a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Company After a Car Accident in Los Angeles? 1 Way They can Fool You

A recorded statement to an insurance company can greatly affect your case.

A recorded statement occurs when an insurance adjuster asks a car accident victim questions about the incident. 

You may be asked a variety of questions in a recorded statement, such as what are your injuries, or how did the accident happen?

After your accident, if you don’t contact them first, your insurance should reach out to you about giving them a recorded statement.  

According to California law, you must cooperate with your own insurance and provide them with a recorded statement. However, there is no law that states you need to give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance. 

Why is it a bad idea to give the defendant’s insurance company a recorded statement? Can it really affect my claim?

For starters, they do not have your best interest. The opposing insurance company is only looking out for themselves and their client, not you. 

Remember, they aren’t in the business of paying you. The less money they give, the better they are.

Furthermore, another party’s insurance may ask you for a recorded statement so they can get a quote to use against you in a case.

Think of a situation where another insurance company speaks to Stef about a car accident. Stef claims that the accident gave them a serious neck injury that causes chronic neck pain.

The conversation goes something like this:

Insurance Company: Hello Stef, how are you?

Stef: Good, yourself?

Insurance Company: Just enjoying the warm, So Cal weather. Did you get to go out this weekend?

Stef:  Yes, I was able to go for a jog in North Hollywood.

Within the first few moments of the conversation, Stef has already taken the bait. By saying they went for a jog, Stef is minimizing the severity of the neck injury.

Even if Stef is in constant pain, jogging may help them, or their pain levels may have been lower that specific day.

An insurance company can also take your recorded statement, request a deposition, and then look for any inconsistencies. The odds are you will not give an exact statement similar to the previous one, and any inconsistencies will be used against you to undermine your injuries.

The purpose of this article is not to paint insurance companies as a villain. It’s part of their job.

This article’s purpose is to warn car accident victims so they can be prepared and reach out for proper help if they desire. 

In situations where an insurance company tries getting you to make a recorded statement, it’s important to hire a Los Angeles car accident attorney to help with your case. 

The accident lawyers at C&B Law Group have decades of combined experience helping with car crash injuries such as:

• Neck pain
• Back pain 
• Broken bones and fractures
• Cuts 
• Organ damage 
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Wrongful death

From the 134 to Melrose Avenue, it’s not uncommon to see car accidents in the Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that 2021 was the deadliest year for LA car crashes in almost 20 years. 

Bullies are no longer just at the schoolyard, and have found their way into affecting potential claims. If you are getting bullied by an insurance company trying to get a recorded statement following a car accident, contact C&B Law Group now. 

Our lawyers have seen all the shady techniques insurance companies will try pulling to build a case against you with a recorded statement. 

Instead of having an insurance company build a case against you, get someone on your side who will build a case for you. 

Contact us now to learn more about a free consultation.