What is a Recorded Statement for Insurance?

One of the methods that insurance companies use to investigate car accidents is a recorded statement. What is a recorded statement?

What is a recorded statement?

As the words suggest, the conversation is usually recorded over the telephone or sometimes the car accident insurance company will attempt to go to your home for an in-person statement with you.

What does an insurance recorded statement entail?

In a recorded statement, you will probably be asked questions about the accident, your injuries, private medical information, date of birth and even your social security number.

How long is a recorded statement for insurance?

They usually last about 15 to 30 minutes, but some car accident insurance companies have been known to take much longer and, in our opinion, ask questions which are an invasion of your privacy — information they have no right to know!

Remember, the insurance company is not looking out for your best interest and anything you say will likely be used against you later on.

Recorded statements can sometimes be even more important, especially in a car accident when a police report was not made and there were no witnesses. The insurance company also uses the recorded statement of the responsible party to get their version of how the accident happened. Witness recorded statements are also taken, if possible.

Is giving a recorded statement to insurance a bad idea?

Sometimes this is not in your best interest and your attorney can advise you whether or not it’s a good idea to give a recorded statement. It is better to get the facts straight first and to consult with your lawyer before making any agreements with the insurance company.

Many people are under the impression that their insurance company is there to protect them but may be surprised during the course of an auto accident claim to discover that statements they previously made to the insurance carrier are being used against the driver.

Remember that even though you have a relationship with the insurance company, the company is there to make a profit and their end goals may not necessarily be aligned with protecting you. You need to be prepared to protect your own future when you move forward with an accident claim.

If you have an attorney, you don’t have to worry about interacting with the insurance company. This can be taken off your plate and given to an experienced lawyer so that you have one less thing to worry about.