Why You Should Never Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Adjuster
Published November 13
By The Chaney Law Firm — Oklahoma Personal Injury Attorneys
After a car wreck or severe injury, it usually doesn’t take long for the insurance adjuster to call. They’ll sound polite, sympathetic, and eager to “just get your side of the story.”
They may even say a recorded statement is required before they can process your claim.
It’s not.
And giving that statement could seriously damage your case.
Before you ever speak to an insurance company on the record, you need to understand what they’re really doing — and why it’s in their interest, not yours.
1. The Adjuster Works for the Insurance Company — Not You
Even when the adjuster seems friendly, remember:
their job is to save the company money, not to help you.
Every recorded statement is analyzed by trained professionals and company lawyers looking for:
Words that minimize your injuries
Statements that suggest partial fault
Details that contradict medical records
Anything they can use to reduce or deny payment
You might think you’re just “being helpful,” but your words can be twisted later to devalue your claim.
2. Everything You Say Can Be Used Against You
Insurance adjusters ask questions designed to lock you into specific answers.
For example:
“You said you’re feeling better today — so you must have recovered, right?”
A polite “yes” could later become:
“The claimant stated she was feeling better only two days after the accident.”
Even harmless statements like “I’m fine” or “It wasn’t that bad” can cut thousands off your settlement value.
When your words are recorded, they become permanent evidence — and they’ll use it to argue your injuries aren’t serious or that you weren’t in pain.
3. You Don’t Know the Full Extent of Your Injuries Yet
Immediately after an accident, you may not realize how hurt you truly are.
Soft-tissue and spinal injuries can take days or weeks to show symptoms.
If you tell the adjuster early on that you’re “fine” or that your neck “just feels sore,” they’ll later claim you weren’t injured at all.
Once that statement is on record, it’s nearly impossible to undo.
Let your doctors — not the insurance company — determine how serious your injuries are.
4. Adjusters Use Leading Questions to Shift Blame
Adjusters are trained to ask loaded questions that make you share fault, even when you did nothing wrong.
Examples include:
“Were you looking at your phone when the crash happened?”
“So, traffic was heavy — could you have stopped sooner?”
“Did you see the other car before impact?”
Even a slight hesitation or unsure answer can be used to argue you’re partly at fault — which reduces your compensation under Oklahoma’s comparative negligence law.
Your best defense?
Don’t give them the opportunity.
5. You Are Not Legally Required to Give a Recorded Statement
Despite what they imply, Oklahoma law does not require you to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company.
You only need to cooperate with your own insurer, and even then, your attorney should guide the conversation.
If the at-fault driver’s adjuster calls asking for “just a few quick questions,” the correct response is simple:
“I’m represented by The Chaney Law Firm. Please contact my attorney directly.”
That one sentence can save your case.
6. An Attorney Can Handle All Communication for You
When you hire The Chaney Law Firm, we act as your voice and your shield.
We’ll:
Communicate directly with all insurance companies
Make sure nothing you say is used out of context
Control the flow of information so your rights stay protected
Prepare you properly if a statement is ever necessary
This not only preserves the strength of your claim — it also removes the stress of dealing with aggressive adjusters while you’re trying to heal.
7. Don’t Fall for “We Just Need to Close Our File”
Insurance companies often create a sense of urgency:
“We just need to record your statement today so we can get your check started.”
That’s not true.
What they really want is to lock down your version of events before you’ve had medical treatment, legal advice, or complete understanding of your claim’s value.
Once they have your recorded words, they’ll analyze every sentence looking for ways to pay you less.
Protect Your Case — Don’t Go It Alone
The period right after an accident is stressful. You’re dealing with pain, medical bills, and missed work — and the last thing you need is an adjuster trying to trap you with tricky questions.
Before you say anything on record, talk to an experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorney.
At The Chaney Law Firm, we protect our clients from insurance company tactics every single day.
We’ll handle the calls, the paperwork, and the negotiation — so you can focus on recovering, not defending your words.