What Should You Do If You Gave a Recorded or Written Statement To The Insurance Adjuster Early-on After The Accident?
Author: Jeanine Steele

What Should You Do If You Gave a Recorded or Written Statement To The Insurance Adjuster Early-on After The Accident?

WHY and HOW to correct and supplement the recorded statement given to the insurance adjuster after your personal injury accident.

If you already gave a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, all hopes are not lost. You can actually limit the damages following your conversation with the insurance adjuster.

Understand WHY it is important to know:
a) What you said
b) Why the insurance adjuster’s record needs to be supplemented.

You will need to get a copy of your recorded statement or writing ASAP, irrespective of whether you are reading this one month or one year after giving the recorded or written statement.

Read or listen to it carefully, taking notes of points you think need correction or further explanation

•Make a demand letter to the insurance adjuster requesting a copy of the recorded statement
•Write a demand letter to the insurance adjuster confirming arrangements to record and furnish a copy of your recorded statement
•Send a demand letter to your state insurance commissioner

You will need to know how to make the correction to your recorded or written statement. Basically, rephrase in clear terms what would you like to change in your recorded statement.

Collect any applicable documentation, such as photos of the scene, medical bills, letters from accident witnesses, auto repair bills, etc…

Create your correction letter and send it in as soon as possible, irrespective of whether you are reading this one month or one year after giving the recorded or written statement—and be sure to send it even if you think the adjuster may discount it because it is coming in too late.

WHY it is important to know what you said to the insurance adjuster and why the adjuster’s record needs to be supplemented in the case of a personal injury claim accident:
If you do decide to make a recorded statement for an insurance adjuster, be sure to make arrangements to obtain a copy for your personal records. You will need it later on because you will not be able to remember details you told the insurance adjuster, and you may have to explain your present position in light of a conflicting statement that you gave at the outset.

The adjuster has your information down in her file, and if you should later present something different in the personal injury insurance claim (which is almost a certainty), you will have to explain why your circumstances have changed, or how your memory came to be “refreshed”. In order to do that, you most certainly will need to make reference to the statement you gave at the outset.

Good demand letter preparation requires that you read or listen to your written or recorded statement, taking notes of points you want to raise in the demand letter, and of others that need correction or clarification. You will be surprised (and probably a little disappointed) to learn what you wrote or said when the accident was fresh and you had not lived with your injuries very long.

A website such as SettlementCentral.Com (http://www.settlementcentral.com) provides easy correction instructions and demand letters for you to use.

Get a copy of your statement or writing ASAP, irrespective of whether you are reading this one month or one year after giving the recorded or written statement.

Remember it is NEVER TOO LATE to request a copy of your recorded statement; just be firm in your request, and do not feel as if you have to give any explanation whatsoever to request a copy to the insurance company.

How to make the correction to your recorded or written statement.

The first thing is to listen to the tape or read the transcript carefully, taking notes of points you think need correction or further explanation;

Second, collect any applicable documentation, such as photos of the accident scene that will help to explain why you are changing your story of what happened.

Send snail mail only—certified perhaps. Never ever do it via phone call or e-mail. The hard copy goes into your file and cannot be ignored. The hard copy carries more weight than a phone call or an e-mail.

How to write the demand letter correcting or supplementing your recorded or written statement:

You do not have to explain every little thing that is different these many months later; just focus on the bigger points. Too many attempts to correct or supplement or explain will not be credible. You probably get just a couple bites at that apple, so hit just the two most glaring items, and mention others just tangentially.

Additional information regarding this topic can be found on our website at http://www.settlementcentral.com.

Best of luck in the pursuit of your personal injury insurance claim!

Best regards,

Jeanine Steele
Senior Editor
SettlementCentral.Com
The online resource for self help do it yourself personal injury insurance claims.








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Jeanine Steele is a senior editor with SettlementCentral.Com, the online resource for self help personal injury insurance claims.

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