Due to precautions related to COVID-19, we have expanded our options for remote consultations. Please contact our office to discuss whether a full phone consultation or video conference is appropriate for your situation.

Call For A Free Case Evaluation

Fighting For The Injured For Over 25 Years

Recorded statements could stop a claim in its tracks

On Behalf of | Apr 29, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

A car accident can change your life in an instant. And even though you’ve got insurance to help you get back on your feet, they may not be so eager to hand your money back.

There were over 7,500 crashes in Pasco County in 2018, the most recently reported year. Those crashes resulted in more than 6,000 injuries. If you become part of that statistic, your insurer will likely get involved. Even if you’re caught up on your premiums, there are things to remember when dealing with their representatives.

Recording issues

The insurance company will likely ask if they can record your statements. Even if you don’t think you have anything to hide, the company could use the tapes to highlight reasons to withhold payment:

  • Admissions: At no point should you admit any guilt. Being at fault for an accident could be your claim’s undoing, whatever reason you give. Trying to soften the blow for the other driver by taking some of the blame or wondering aloud if you could have avoided the crash will probably only hurt your case.
  • Inaccuracies: The insurance company will have plenty of documentation on the accident before you hear from them. The last thing you want to do is give them reason to believe you don’t have a crystal-clear memory of the incident. Changing details or misremembering events could all cost you.
  • History: Injuries in your past may come back to haunt you. If you openly discuss minor nagging pains from before the accident, the insurer can still try to use that to reduce their responsibility. They could try to argue that an aggravated injury doesn’t warrant the payment that a new issue does.

Make sure you get the help you need after an accident. Knowing how an insurance company can use recorded statements to their advantage can be the difference maker when it comes time to collect.