[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/recorded-statement-after-an-accident\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/recorded-statement-after-an-accident\/","headline":"Should I Give My Own Insurance a Recorded Statement After an Accident in Virginia?","name":"Should I Give My Own Insurance a Recorded Statement After an Accident in Virginia?","description":"After being injured in a car accident in Virginia, you\u2019ll likely need to notify your insurance company about the crash \u2013 even if it wasn\u2019t your fault. It\u2019s essential to be cautious when speaking with the insurance representatives you contact. While \u201cyour\u201d insurance company is theoretically on your side, in reality, you still need to […]","datePublished":"2023-07-10","dateModified":"2026-04-07","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/author\/bryan_meadows\/#Person","name":"Bryan L. 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Marks & Harrison provides comprehensive legal services to individuals who are victims of personal injury. The firm\u2019s 30 attorneys, along with a staff of more than 100, are based in 14 offices; the main office is in Richmond, regional offices are located around the Commonwealth, from DC, to Harrisonburg, to Tappahannock. Marks & Harrison has received numerous awards and recognition for its work on behalf of its clients. \n\nTo learn more about the firm and its attorneys, please visit: https:\/\/linktr.ee\/marksandharrison\nContact us at: http:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/contact-us","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/kg23-I7HYD-AR7DjeizOcvSEfNS6zJQTmbsLdBU0DAK1x7zxbnho3k6RvWQnx5X8BF41bq5w-w=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L3MOLQdUnAg#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L3MOLQdUnAg#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L3MOLQdUnAg&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L3MOLQdUnAg#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":92}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L3MOLQdUnAg#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1}]},"about":["Accidents"],"wordCount":1023,"articleBody":"After being injured in a car accident in Virginia, you\u2019ll likely need to notify your insurance company about the crash \u2013 even if it wasn\u2019t your fault. It\u2019s essential to be cautious when speaking with the insurance representatives you contact.While \u201cyour\u201d insurance company is theoretically on your side, in reality, you still need to be careful about what you say in any statement after an accident. If you don\u2019t watch what you say, your words could come back to bite you later on. That\u2019s true regardless of whether the statement was recorded or written down.The Richmond car accident lawyers at Marks & Harrison are here to help if you\u2019ve recently been in a car accident. We\u2019re a third-generation firm that\u2019s been helping people with personal injury cases for more than a century. We have 26 attorneys at our firm and an extensive support staff system, giving us the resources to tackle even the toughest cases. With our help, our clients have recovered millions of dollars for their injuries.Get a free consultation by calling one of our offices or visiting our contact page now.Giving a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Adjuster: What Could Go Wrong?Generally speaking, you should avoid making a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster after an accident, even if it\u2019s a statement to your insurer. The main reason for this is because recorded statements are inherently less precise than a written statement.It\u2019s all too easy to say the wrong thing or use the wrong word in a recorded statement, only for an insurance company to turn around and use those words against you later on. You may also inadvertently use overly casual or familiar phrases in a recorded statement that can get you into trouble.Why Does My Insurance Company Need a Recorded Statement?Your insurance company may not need a recorded statement at all. While most insurance companies generally require you to cooperate with them after an accident, the statement does not necessarily have to be recorded. You may be able to provide a written statement instead, in which case you can be much more careful and precise about the words you use.To fully protect yourself from any possible mistakes and give yourself the best chance at recovering fair compensation for your injuries, you should speak with a car accident lawyer before providing any statement to any insurer.Insurance companies want a recorded statement because it\u2019s typically much easier and faster to get someone to describe an accident orally than it is to wait for them to submit a written statement. A recorded statement allows insurance companies to move through the claims process more quickly, but it carries risks for anyone involved in the accident.Any recorded statement you make to your insurer could potentially be used by the other driver\u2019s insurer against you \u2013 especially if you aren\u2019t careful about what you say.What Should You NOT Say to Your Insurance Company After an Accident in VA?Here are some things to avoid saying to your insurance company if you make a statement after an accident:Don\u2019t say \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d or anything else that could be taken as an admission of fault. While most of us understand how saying \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d after an accident means you\u2019re sorry the accident occurred and not that you\u2019re admitting fault, you don\u2019t want to give an insurer any potential ammunition to use against you.Don\u2019t say you weren\u2019t hurt in the crash. Delayed injuries are common in car accidents. If you say you were uninjured and it turns out you were injured in some way, you\u2019ll likely have serious trouble recovering compensation for your injuries. Downplaying the seriousness of your injuries could also cause problems later on.Don\u2019t answer questions if you aren\u2019t sure of the answer. Saying the wrong thing in a statement can easily come back to haunt you when you\u2019re trying to recover compensation for your injuries. If you don\u2019t know or aren\u2019t sure of the answer to a question, just say you don\u2019t know and leave it at that.Don\u2019t speculate about who or what caused the accident. Stick the basic facts of what occurred. Don\u2019t guess about things you don\u2019t know for sure.Don\u2019t agree to release your medical records. While you can use your medical records to substantiate your case, you want to be extremely careful about what information is released to the insurance company. Don\u2019t agree to turn over any documents without speaking to an attorney first.What Happens If You Don\u2019t Tell Your Insurance About an Accident?Most insurance companies require you to inform them of an accident within a specific time, usually a few days or weeks. Failure to do so could prevent you from recovering compensation for your injuries.Notifying your insurer about an accident does not mean you have to give an official statement about what happened. Hold off on providing any statement until you\u2019ve had a chance to talk to a lawyer.How a Lawyer Can Help You Deal with Insurance Companies in VirginiaIt\u2019s always a good idea to speak to an attorney when dealing with insurance companies. A knowledgeable and experienced lawyer can help you give the insurance companies the information they need while ensuring nothing you say jeopardizes your right to compensation for your injuries.In many cases, an attorney can take care of all your communications needs and settlement negotiations on your behalf while you rest and focus on healing.Get Help from Our Virginia Car Accident LawyersThe Virginia car accident attorneys at Marks & Harrison know how challenging it can be to deal with insurance companies after an accident. We want to help you. With our experience and knowledge on your side, you can rest easy knowing you have a dedicated advocate fighting to seek the compensation you deserve.Get your free case review by calling one of our offices or visiting our contact page."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Should I Give My Own Insurance a Recorded Statement After an Accident in Virginia?","item":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/recorded-statement-after-an-accident\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]