What to Avoid Saying to an Insurance Company After a Truck Accident

People injured in truck accidents are vulnerable in the minutes, hours, and days after the crash. While you’re dealing with physical and emotional trauma, insurance adjusters are already working hard to limit or deny your personal injury claim.

It’s common for people injured in a truck accident to receive a phone call or visit from the insurance company covering the truck, offering an apology or asking for details about the crash. While it may seem harmless, you should know they do not have your best interests in mind. They’re likely looking for a way to use your words against you.

Why Your Words Matter After a Truck Accident

Insurance adjusters are trained to gather information, evidence, and statements that minimize liability so they can pay as little as possible for claims. Adjusters will often try to contact you as soon as possible, ask seemingly innocuous questions, and ask how you’re doing. Though they may sound sincere, the sole purpose of these communications is to elicit statements that can be used to downplay your injuries and shift fault away from the responsible party.

What to Avoid When Speaking to Insurance Adjusters

Dealing with insurance adjusters before hiring an attorney is a common mistake after a truck accident. If you need to speak with an adjuster, there are a few common phrases and actions to avoid with insurers.

• “I’m okay” or “I feel fine.” Adrenaline after an accident can mask injuries. Severe conditions like whiplash or internal trauma might not appear until days later. Saying you’re fine could make it harder to claim compensation for medical care.
• “I think it was my fault.” Evidence, not personal opinion, should be the basis for a finding of fault, but the adjuster will take any advantage you give them. Admitting fault, even casually, could severely damage your case.
• Hypothesizing about the accident. Avoid guessing or speculating about what happened. For example, saying, “Maybe I didn’t see them in time,” could shift blame to you, even if the other driver was clearly at fault. Stick to the facts — or better yet, say nothing at all.
• Providing a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters often ask you to make a recorded statement. They may later try to use it against you. For instance, they might take your words out of context to dispute your injuries or credibility. Always decline this request and direct them to your attorney.

How Insurers Use Statements Against You

Insurance companies focus on protecting their bottom line. They may:

• Highlight parts of your statement that minimize your injuries.
• Use your words to argue you share the blame for the accident.
• Look for inconsistencies to challenge your credibility.

Even one seemingly innocent comment could weaken your claim. You deserve to tell your story to an experienced attorney who cares about protecting your truck accident claim.

Let Our Truck Accident Attorneys Talk to the Insurance Company for You

After a truck accident, the last thing you need is the stress of dealing with insurance adjusters. At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, we’ll handle all communications with the insurance company, so you don’t have to. Our experienced attorneys know how to protect your rights and aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.

Don’t risk your claim by saying the wrong thing. Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today for a free consultation.