If you sustain an injury that leaves you with pain, suffering, medical bills and other losses in North Carolina, your way to recover financial compensation may be through an insurance claim. Achieving a fair settlement, however, can be difficult. Insurance companies tend to use many tactics to minimize payouts, including asking for a recorded statement.
Contact our Wilmington car accident attorneys to help guide you through filing a car accident claim. Schedule your free consultation today.
Giving a Recorded Statement to Your Own Insurance Company
The question of whether or not you should give an insurance company a recorded statement after an accident depends on whose insurance provider you are communicating with. If you filed a claim with your own car insurance company, the terms of your contract most likely require you to give a recorded statement.
If you refuse to give your own insurance provider a recorded statement as part of an accident claim, expect the claim to be denied. The insurance company may also choose to drop you as a client and cancel your policy. However, you are permitted to state that you will submit a written statement later, after consulting with an attorney.
Do Not Provide a Recorded Statement to Another Party’s Insurance Company
If the insurance company handling your claim is someone else’s – such as a driver who is at fault for a car accident – you should not give them a recorded statement. No law requires you to provide a recorded statement to another person’s insurance carrier in North Carolina; nor should you if you wish to protect your right to recover compensation.
The recorded statement is an attempt by an insurance company to collect evidence against you. If you say one thing in the recorded statement but another in future interviews or depositions, you could be painted as an unreliable witness. The recorded statement could also be used to get you to unintentionally admit fault or liability for the car accident.
How to Deal With Insurance Companies
Asking for a statement is just one tactic an insurance provider might employ to try to take advantage of you and minimize your payout. You should also be on the lookout for unreasonable delays, wrongful claim denials, the comparative negligence defense, liability disputes and underestimated injury costs.
When discussing your case with an insurance claim adjuster, keep details to a minimum. Don’t give away any information that is not specifically requested. Do not speculate or make guesses as to who caused the accident. Stick only to the facts as you remember them. Do not admit fault or apologize. Stay off of social media while your case is pending to avoid posting something that unintentionally hurts your claim.
When to Hire a Wilmington Car Accident Attorney
The most effective way to protect your rights while dealing with an insurance company in North Carolina is by hiring our auto accident lawyer in Wilmington to represent you. Your lawyer can give you advice regarding how to speak with insurance claims adjusters or take over communications on your behalf to help you avoid common mistakes.
It is crucial not to sign anything sent to you by an insurance company or accept a settlement in the early stages of your accident claim. The first settlement offer is typically set low in the hopes that the claimant will accept without negotiating. Before agreeing, contact our auto accident attorney in Wilmington for personalized legal strategies and representation. A Wilmington, NC car accident lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement for you or go up against an insurance company in court in North Carolina, if necessary.