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Am I Required to Make My Car Accident Statement to the Insurance Company Over the Phone?

Getting into a car accident—even one in which no injuries are sustained—can be a very stressful and uncomfortable experience. Regardless of whether anyone was harmed, you will likely still need to file a claim to pay for the damages to your vehicle.

When you file a claim with the insurance company, they will ask you to provide a statement about the accident. Your statement will help the insurance company determine whether you are eligible for compensation, and if so, how much.

Many people have anxiety about providing a statement to the insurance company over the phone. Keep reading to learn whether you are required to provide your statement over the phone.

Options for Providing Your Statement

It is a common misconception that you are required to provide your accident statement to the auto insurance company over the phone. While that is one option you can choose from, you have other options as well.

You have the following three options for providing your accident statement to the insurance company:

  1. Over the phone
  2. In writing
  3. Your attorney provides your statement for you

If you are uncomfortable with providing your statement to the insurance company over the phone, it may be better for you to write it down. Providing your statement in writing allows you the opportunity to sit down and think carefully about exactly what happened.

Writing your statement as opposed to providing it over the phone gives you the time and space to gather your thoughts without having the added pressure of an insurance company representative hanging on your every word.

If you don’t feel comfortable providing a statement at all, you have the right to ask your attorney to provide it for you. Your attorney knows what to say and what not to say to the insurance company so that your claim is not harmed in any way.

A Helpful Tip

If you decide to provide your statement over the phone, it’s in your best interest to have your attorney present. Your lawyer can help you provide your statement in such a way that your claim remains unharmed. Additionally, your attorney will make sure you don’t provide any information that you don’t have to.

If you’ve been involved in an accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. Let us see if we can help—contact our office right away with any questions you may have.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, our lawyers at Whiting Hagg & Dorsey, LLP may be able to help you receive the settlement you deserve. Give us a call at (605) 519-6136 or fill out an online contact form.

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