5 Things to Remember When Asked To Give A Statement

If you are asked to give a statement to an insurance company after an injury or an accident, there are certain matters you must keep in mind to preserve your right to fair compensation.

You can give a statement, but it is strongly advised that you talk to a personal injury lawyer first.

Your attorney can advise you of the various strategies that could be employed by an insurance company to get your to admit fault or diminish the degree of your injuries. There are real pitfalls in giving a statement and being represented by skilled counsel can help you avoid losing your right to full compensation.

Always be very clear that the other party’s act of negligence is the reason you suffered an injury.

If there is any doubt that the other party is at fault, or if you admit that you may have somehow contributed to the accident, you will lose your ability to get compensation. Stay firm on this fact, and don’t deviate from it.

Ask for a copy of your statement.

Record the statement yourself if possible. If not, ask the insurance company to send you a copy at once.

Refuse to agree to make a statement unless the insurance company is willing to give you a copy of what you told them.

If the insurance company says that they cannot give you a copy of your statement, do not agree to make a statement. You can avoid real problems in the future by holding firm on this point.

Before making a statement, write down what you are going to say, or run it through your mind so you are clear about what you plan to say.

Run your planned statement by your attorney for better results. If you are inconsistent in your statements, it can create problems for you in the future with regard to recovering compensation, as any discrepancies will be brought up if the claim is disputed—which they often are.

Contact the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm at (973) 920-7900 to speak with our experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyers for more information about filing a claim or lawsuit to recover compensatory damages in all types of injury cases.