A Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Should Always Be Consulted When an Insurance Company Asks for a Record Statement

After an auto crash, one of the first people you’ll likely speak with is someone from your insurance company, and they may ask you to provide a recorded statement detailing the accident. But any Tampa, FL car accident lawyer will rightly tell you not to give a recorded statement without a lawyer present, and in many cases, you’ll be advised against making a statement under any circumstances.  That’s because a recorded statement can be used against you in the future, potentially limiting the settlement you justly deserve.

While your insurance adjuster will likely claim that the recording is solely for the company’s records, it’s possible that they’ll use something you say inadvertently to bolster their case against a reasonable settlement. They can do this by twisting your responses or taking them out of context, and they may even ask you tricky questions that elicit incriminating responses. Without a car accident lawyer present, you’d never know if you’d taken a misstep. Even if your insurance agent is forthright during the interview, you could unintentionally damage your chances of a good settlement by giving them too much information, innocently confusing details or timelines, or forgetting to provide vital information. The likelihood of this happening is high post-accident because trauma and medications can make analysis and recall difficult, and because insurance adjusters might use technical words or phrases you are unfamiliar with.

But a car accident lawyer from Clark and Martino P.A., can help. The attorneys at our Tampa, FL office understand that a big insurance company can be intimidating, especially if its representatives imply that you’re doing yourself a disservice by refusing a recorded statement. Here are some tips for handling the situation, should it arise:

• Remember that you are not required by any law or contract to provide your insurance company, or someone else’s, with a recorded statement.
• Immediately and consistently refuse to give the statement and let the insurance adjuster know you’d like to speak with your lawyer before deciding whether you’ll ever give one.
• Call your car accident lawyer and let him or her know that the insurance company is pressing you for a recorded statement.

If you or a loved one has suffered the misfortune of an auto accident in or near Tampa, Florida, contact a knowledgeable car accident lawyer from Clark and Martino P.A. Our law firm has the resources and experience to put you on an even playing field with any insurance giant. Each experienced car accident lawyer from our staff goes above and beyond to protect our clients’ rights and earn the settlement they need to get back on track after a traumatic accident. Contact Clark and Martino P.A. at 1-888-868-5615 to receive a free initial consultation.