After an auto accident, an insurance company or law enforcement officials may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement about what occurred leading up to the crash. It’s important to understand the differences between these two types of statements and what to watch out for when they are requested of you.

Recorded statements

Insurance companies generally prefer recorded statements, as it gives them more control over your answers. There’s often a script they use when taking recorded statements. Because they have all of the questions in front of them, claims adjusters are able to hone in on what they believe is relevant to the claim — and that may not align with what you believe to be relevant. As a result, you might not have the opportunity to present information you find important to the claim. Additionally, because recorded statements happen live, you do not have much of an opportunity to review and polish your answers. You could say something that’s misconstrued to mean something you did not intend.

Written statements

You have the right to submit a written statement to an insurance company, even if you do not necessarily have the right to completely deny a recorded statement. Providing a written statement, even in addition to a recorded statement, allows you to go into greater detail on certain elements of the accident. This can be especially important if the recorded statement did not give you that opportunity. You are also able to spend much more time editing and rewriting your statement with the assistance of your personal injury attorney. And most importantly, a written statement gives you control over the message, just as a recorded statement gives the insurance adjuster control. This is a benefit you simply should not pass up. For further guidance on how you should proceed after a Maryland car accident, meet with a dedicated La Plata personal injury lawyer at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.