If you are in a car accident that has left you with injuries and property damage, you are probably thinking about seeking compensation.
The truth is, these cases rarely go to court. These claims general go through the other driver’s insurance company (as auto insurance is mandatory in Missouri). You should never assume this process will be easier than with a court of law – reality proves it often isn’t.
The Problem with a Recorded Statement
Your case will be processed by the insurance company once you make the claim. You may assume you’ll be in contact with a representative of the company (an insurance adjuster), who will get in touch with you on several occasions to discuss your claims and negotiate a settlement.
However, this is not always the case. In reality, you’ll likely be contacted by several representatives of the insurance company before talking to the adjuster who will oversee your case. And since a lot of these back-and-forth conversations can take place by the phone, you may be confronted with a Recorded Statement, which is essentially a recording of any phone conversation you have with a representative of the insurance company.
The problem is, you’re not always told upfront your conversations are being recorded. And this is legal because in Missouri you generally only need the consent of one party for recording a conversation. As a result, when the person on the other line seems sympathetic to your situation, you may feel more comfortable to overshare information or make mistakes that can end up hurting your claim.
It is important to understand that insurance adjusters will use these recorded statements if they benefit them. It doesn’t matter that you did not know the conversations were recorded or the state of mind you were in at the time.
What Should You Do?
The best strategy here is to simply refuse to speak with the insurance adjuster or any other representative of the insurance company over the phone. Even if you are careful about what you say, there are still problems that can appear.
For instance, you may not understand everything the adjuster says. As a result, perhaps you agree to a particular term that works against you.
Work with a St. Louis car accident attorney and simply tell any adjuster that contacts you to talk directly to your lawyer. They may try to push, but hold your ground and direct them to your attorney.
St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys
Don’t fall into the insurance company’s traps. Get in touch with a St. Louis car accident lawyer and let them protect your best interests. For a FREE case evaluation 24/7, give us a call at (314) 361-4242.