What to Say (and Not to Say) to Insurance Companies After a Wreck

Among the many challenges faced by injury victims in the aftermath of a traffic crash is dealing with insurance companies. Knowing what to say—and what not to say—can protect your ability to pursue damages if the wreck was caused by another’s negligence.

Talking to Your Insurance Provider After a Crash

After you’ve reported the accident to law enforcement and received medical attention, you will need to notify your own insurance provider about the crash.

It’s important to be honest with your insurance company, but don’t offer unsolicited details. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and their adjusters are looking for ways to limit or deny your claim.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when speaking with your insurance provider following a wreck:

• Do not admit fault or apologize. Admitting partial fault or making an apology may be used to shift the level of liability in your case. This can be especially damaging to your ability to pursue compensation if you live in an at-fault state.

• Stick to the facts. When talking to your insurance adjuster, adhere to the basics: The date, time and location of the accident; the circumstances in which the accident occurred; the name of the responding law enforcement agency; the names and contact information for other involved drivers; and the insurance information for other involved drivers.

• Avoid statements about the status of your injuries. Don’t provide statements about your injuries or health, particularly categorizing how you feel. It’s important to remember that some injuries take time to present symptoms, and other injuries may ultimately be more or less severe than they initially appeared.

• Do not go on the record. If a claims adjuster asks you to give a recorded statement, politely decline. Insurance adjusters sometimes ask leading questions, and a recorded conversation in which you made inaccurate or conflicting statements may be used to try to limit your settlement offer.

Talking to Other Drivers’ Insurance Companies After a Crash

In some cases, the insurance providers of other involved drivers may try to contact you after an accident. They may even try to lead you to believe that you need to provide a statement before you can file a claim.

You are not required to speak with other drivers’ insurance companies. In fact, it’s in your best interests to decline to make a statement to other insurance providers and instead refer them to your own insurance company or your attorney.

Do not discuss fault, consent to a recorded interview or provide information about the severity of your injuries to other drivers’ insurance providers. If you’re hurt and are considering filing a personal injury claim, speaking with other drivers’ insurance companies could affect the outcome of your case.

The attorneys at Young, Reverman & Mazzei are dedicated to helping injury victims pursue the financial security they need to move forward with their lives. If you were hurt in a crash caused by a careless driver, please call us today at 800-721-1678 or contact us online to arrange your free consultation.

We welcome clients from the greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, areas as well Kenton County, Campbell County and Boone County in Kentucky, and Dearborn County in Indiana. For a complete list of our offices and communities served, please visit our Directions page.