Do I have to give a recorded statement?

The recorded statement is your account of what happened during the accident, which the claims adjuster will record for potential use later. No federal or Texas state law requires you to agree to give a recorded statement. Doing so generally will not benefit you, and instead could hurt your claim to damages.

What is a recording statement?

What Is a Recorded Statement? A recorded statement is a question and answer session conducted by the insurance adjuster that is tape recorded and later used to create a written document. It can be taken over the telephone or in person—usually in the insurance adjuster’s office.

What happens after recorded statement?

Once you give a recorded statement, you can’t take it back. Anything you say will become part of your claim. That’s why it’s so important to be well-prepared. If the adjuster calls before you’re ready, politely say you’re busy and ask to reschedule.

Can you refuse a recorded statement to insurance company?

You have the right to refuse a recorded statement if you don’t have legal representation. When insurance adjusters contact you for a recorded statement, you can direct them to speak with your lawyer to help protect your rights to the fullest. A lawyer prevents the insurance adjuster from using your words against you.

How do I get a recorded statement?

Prepare a detailed list of questions you wish to ask the other person. Write the questions down so that you won’t forget them. Estimate the amount of time it will take you to record the statement. Notify the other party that you intend to record his statement.

Why are recorded statements important?

Recording the statement gives it a permanent nature, allowing the adjuster to easily and accurately refer back to it. For example, if a claim drags on into years of litigation, the recording can be used to refresh one’s memory of the events.

What happens in a recorded statement after a claim?

What Happens in a Recorded Statement After you file a claim, you’ll receive a call from the insurance adjuster about your accident. The adjuster will ask you early on to provide a recorded statement. Keep in mind that even before you’ve agreed to provide a statement, anything you say can be used against you by the insurance company.

When do you get a recorded statement from your insurance company?

After you file a claim, you’ll receive a call from the insurance adjuster about your accident. The adjuster will ask you early on to provide a recorded statement. Keep in mind that even before you’ve agreed to provide a statement, anything you say can be used against you by the insurance company.

When do you not have to give a recorded statement?

If your injury claim is against another person’s insurance company, it’s a third-party claim, and you don’t have to submit to a recorded statement.

Can a person give a recorded statement in a civil case?

In cases that will probably be settled without filing a lawsuit, attorneys will only allow their clients to give a recorded statement with the attorney present. That way, the attorney can keep the claimant from saying anything that may hurt their claim, and make sure the adjuster doesn’t ask inappropriate or irrelevant questions.

When to give a recorded statement after a work injury?

An insurance adjuster will ask you to give a recorded statement after your work injury. The adjuster works for your employer’s insurance company or for a third-party administrator (TPA). A TPA is a company that processes claims for the insurer.

What happens if you give a recorded statement after a car accident?

You’ve been in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault. Within a few days, an adjuster for the insurance company of the guy who hit you calls on the telephone. The adjuster wants you to give a recorded statement telling her how the accident happened and also asks you to provide some personal information.

What happens when you give a recorded statement to the insurance company?

Within a few days, an adjuster for the insurance company of the guy who hit you calls on the telephone. The adjuster wants you to give a recorded statement telling her how the accident happened and also asks you to provide some personal information. She says she wants to help you, and you certainly need help.

When do you have to give a recorded statement?

If the Adjuster or Investigator Says You Must Give a Statement. In personal injury cases, there is no law in any state that requires the injured person to give a recorded statement to the insurance company of the driver who is potentially at fault.