Free Guide
The adjuster who calls will sound friendly, and that's exactly why this is worth two minutes. Here's how to protect yourself without being rude or saying the wrong thing. Their job is to pay you as little as possible, yours is just to be careful.
“I'm fine” / “I'm okay.” Said before your injuries surface, this gets quoted back as proof you weren't hurt.
“I'm sorry.” A reflex apology is treated as an admission of fault.
“I think…” about speed, distance, or timing. Guesses lock you into details that may be wrong and used against you.
“Yes, you can record this.” A recorded statement gives the insurer a script to pick apart later.
Accepting a number on the spot. “That sounds fair” can be treated as agreement to a lowball figure.
You can stay polite and brief: confirm who you are, the date and location, and that you're still being evaluated by a doctor. Then say you'll follow up in writing or through your lawyer, and end the call. You're not required to explain your injuries, speculate about fault, or agree to a recording.
Guides are general. Your case isn't. Ask us, it's free and there's no obligation.
Start a free reviewAfter an accident you should not tell an insurance adjuster that you're “fine,” apologize, guess about how the crash happened, or agree to a recorded statement. Each of these can be used to reduce or deny your claim. Keep the call short, stick to basic facts, and tell them your lawyer will follow up.
You do not have to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. There is no law requiring it, and these recordings are routinely used to find inconsistencies that lower your payout. You can decline politely and have Peretz Law Firm handle communication instead.
Yes, what you say to an adjuster can lower your settlement. Casual phrases like “I'm okay” or “I'm sorry,” or guesses about speed and distance, get recorded and quoted back later to argue you weren't seriously hurt or were partly at fault. That's why it's safest to say little and let a lawyer respond.
This guide is general information for people in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, it isn't legal advice for your specific situation, and reading it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your own case, talk to a lawyer. We're happy to be that first call, free.