After a car accident, you might receive a call from the other driver’s insurance company within hours. The adjuster sounds friendly and concerned about your well-being. However, you should not talk to them without legal advice. Their goal is to protect their company’s bottom line, not to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Insurance companies are multi-billion-dollar corporations that use precise tactics to reduce payouts. According to a study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), auto accident victims who hire an attorney receive settlements that are, on average, 3.5 times higher than those who negotiate on their own. At Hasbrook & Hasbrook Personal Injury Lawyers, we stand between injury victims and predatory insurance tactics. We protect your rights and fight for the full recovery you deserve after a crash.
The Hidden Motivation of the Insurance Adjuster
The insurance adjuster may seem helpful and sympathetic when they call. However, their primary job is to save their company money by paying you as little as possible. They search for any admission of fault or inconsistency in your story about the accident scene.
Every word you say becomes evidence they can use to devalue or deny your injury claim. The adjuster works for the insurance carrier, not for you. Their friendly demeanor masks their true purpose: to minimize what you receive from your accident claim.
Why Recorded Statements Are a Risk to Your Claim
In Oklahoma, you have no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. They may pressure you or suggest that they cannot process your claim without it. This is false. You can file a claim and pursue compensation without ever speaking to them directly.
The Danger of Leading Questions
Adjusters use questions designed to trap you into admitting partial fault for the car accident. They might ask, “You were in a hurry that day, weren’t you?” or “The sun was in your eyes, correct?” These questions push you toward statements that suggest you were responsible for the crash.
Even innocent responses can be twisted to reduce your settlement offer. The adjuster might ask about your speed, your level of attention, or whether you saw the other vehicle. Each question aims to build a case against you. A recorded statement gives them a recording device to analyze your words repeatedly, looking for any advantage.
Contradicting Your Own Medical Records
Many auto accident injuries don’t appear immediately after a crash. You might say you “feel fine” today, but whiplash or a traumatic brain injury may not show symptoms for 48 hours. The insurance company will use your recorded statement to argue you weren’t really hurt. Internal injuries, soft tissue damage, and concussions often have delayed symptoms. Never discuss injuries before a full medical evaluation.
What you say today can contradict your medical records and medical reports tomorrow. This contradiction gives the claims adjuster ammunition to deny your medical expenses and medical treatment costs. Never discuss your injuries before you’ve received a complete medical evaluation.
Understanding Oklahoma’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 50% threshold. If you are found 50% or more at fault for the car accident, you cannot recover any compensation. If you are found to be less than 50% at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you are 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you receive only $80,000. Insurance companies exploit this rule by tricking victims into admitting even minor responsibility during recorded statements. One careless admission can cost you thousands of dollars or eliminate your entire injury claim. This makes every conversation with the other driver’s insurance company dangerous to your financial recovery.
Common Tactics Used to Devalue Your Recovery
Insurance companies use several strategies to reduce the costs of accident claims. The “quick settlement offer” arrives before you understand the full extent of your injuries. It rarely covers future medical bills, ongoing medical treatment, or the long-term effects of catastrophic injury. These offers typically come within days of the crash when you’re vulnerable and stressed.
Another common tactic involves the “medical authorization release” form. This document allows the claims adjuster to access your entire medical history and search for pre-existing conditions to blame for your current injuries. They dig through years of medical appointments and medical records, looking for any excuse to deny your claim. These tactics work because most people don’t understand the claims process or their rights under their insurance policy.
What Information Are You Actually Required to Provide?
You must cooperate with your own insurance company under your insurance contract. This means providing them with accurate information about the crash, including the police report and accident report. However, you have no legal obligation to speak with the other driver’s insurance carrier.
When dealing with your own insurer, provide basic facts: your name, contact information, date and location of the accident scene, and the other driver’s information. Share the police report number if law enforcement responded. Provide your driver’s license, vehicle registration, policy number, and proof of insurance as required.
Avoid detailed descriptions of your injuries, speculation about fault, or opinions about what caused the crash. Never sign broad medical releases or discuss settlement amounts without consulting a personal injury lawyer first.
The Benefits of Letting Hasbrook & Hasbrook Handle the Adjusters
Hiring an attorney creates a protective buffer between you and aggressive insurance tactics. Once you retain legal representation, the insurance company cannot contact you directly anymore. All communication goes through our office, ending the harassment and pressure you face.
We handle all negotiations, recorded statements, and document requests on your behalf. This protection allows you to focus on your medical treatment and recovery instead of fighting with adjusters. Our team knows the legal issues and traffic laws that apply to your case, ensuring the insurance company cannot take advantage of you.
How Professional Legal Representation Maximizes Your Settlement
We calculate the full value of your claim, including elements many people overlook. Our assessment covers current and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering.
We document every aspect of your losses to build a comprehensive demand. Insurance companies offer more when they know an experienced personal injury lawyer backs the claim. We prepare every case for trial, showing the insurance carrier we’re ready to fight in court if they refuse a fair settlement agreement and release.
This readiness often motivates insurance companies to significantly increase their offers. We understand policy limits, liability coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and how to maximize recovery from all available sources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to give a recorded statement under Oklahoma law?
No. Oklahoma law does not require you to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company.
What if the adjuster says they can’t process my claim without a statement?
This is a pressure tactic. They can investigate and process your accident claim without ever speaking to you directly.
Should I sign the medical release form they sent me?
No. These broad releases allow adjusters search your entire medical history for information to use against your injury claim.
What if I already spoke to them and admitted I was “sorry”?
Contact us immediately. We can work to minimize the damage and build a strong case despite this statement.
Can the other driver’s insurance company record me without my knowledge?
Recording laws vary, but you should assume every conversation is recorded. Never speak to them without legal representation.
Does my own insurance company need a statement from me?
Your own insurer may require cooperation under your insurance policy, but we can guide you through this process safely.
Contact Our Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Strategy Session
Going it alone against a multi-billion-dollar insurance company puts your financial recovery at risk. The adjusters have training, experience, and tactics designed to reduce your settlement or deny your claim entirely. You need an advocate who understands the claims process, knows your rights, and fights for maximum compensation.
At Hasbrook & Hasbrook Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer a 100% free, no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your case. Contact us before you say another word to the insurance company. Let us protect your rights and pursue the full recovery you deserve after your auto accident injuries.
