Shortly after an accident, the insurance company representing the negligent party will reach out to you requesting a statement concerning the incident. Don't take this lightly. Although it's a seemingly, innocent phone call everything you say on this call will be used in the investigation of the incident. One inaccurate statement can literally harm your entire claim. Make sure you're prepared.

Know Your Rights

Remember that the recorded statement can occur on your terms. Don't give the statement until you're ready. In order to give the most accurate account, you might need some time to reflect on what has happened and maybe even take notes.

If you have not had a chance to do this when the adjuster calls, make sure you understand that you can reschedule the call. If it's only been a couple of days since the accident or you are still physically recovering, it's best to wait until you're more prepared.

Keep It Short And Sweet

Try to keep your answers as short as possible. Think of this more like a true/false exam rather than an essay style exam. The reality is that the more you talk, the more likely it is that you will say something you shouldn't say or add fluff, both of which can be harming to your claim.

If the answer requires a little more than a simple yes or no, take a few moments to reflect to ensure you are only saying that which is absolutely necessary. If you don't feel like you can answer the question right away, simply say you need a few moments.

Hard Facts

Your recorded statement is not the time to speculate. Everything you say should be hard facts, not speculation. Take a rear-end collision, for example. Say the adjuster asks the victim if they believed the accident could have been avoided and the victim says, "Maybe. If I would have looked behind me and moved."

This gives the insurance company ammunition to say that you were not paying attention and had you been a more aware driver maybe the injuries or property damage sustained wouldn't be as great. While this won't cancel out your claim, this can definitely have an effect on your award amount. Leave out words like maybe and probably and anything else that isn't a known fact.

As with any other correspondence with the insurance company, negligent party or any other entity representing them, make sure you are speaking with your personal injury attorney first.