What to Say to the Other Insurance Company After an Accident
Give the other insurer only the facts of what happened, nothing about fault, injuries, or how you're feeling.
Why the other company's job is different from yours
The other driver's insurance company does not work for you. Its job is to pay out as little as possible on behalf of its own policyholder. When an adjuster from that company calls you, friendly as they may sound, they are gathering material that could be used to reduce or deny what you're owed.
This is why what you say matters so much. A recorded statement that includes "I'm fine" or "I might have been going a little fast" can be used later even if the injury shows up the next day or the speed had nothing to do with the crash. Insurers are trained to ask open questions and let you fill in the blanks, and those blanks can become their evidence.
You're not obligated to give that company a recorded statement at all, and in most cases you shouldn't. You can confirm basic facts, your name, the date, the location, that a crash happened, without narrating details, opinions, or guesses about injuries or fault. Let your own insurance company and the police report carry that weight instead.
There are times a brief conversation is unavoidable, especially if you're the one filing the claim against their driver. Even then, stick to what you directly observed and avoid speculating about anything you're not certain of. If the conversation starts to feel like an interrogation about fault or injuries, it's reasonable to say you'll follow up in writing instead.
Do I have to talk to the other driver's insurance company at all?
No. You're generally not required to give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement, and you can decline one without hurting your own claim.
You may need to confirm basic facts like your contact information or the date and location of the crash, especially if you're seeking payment from their policy. But anything beyond that, a detailed account, opinions on fault, descriptions of injuries, is optional. If an adjuster pressures you for more, you can simply say you'll respond in writing or through your own insurer, and take the time to think it through before saying anything further.
Every sentence you give the other insurer can be used to pay you less, so say less than you think you need to.
Once you know how to handle that call, compare quotes to make sure your own coverage backs you up just as well.
Should you give the other insurer a recorded statement
If you do
They may ask leading questions about speed, distraction, or injuries. Casual answers like "I didn't see them" or "I'm probably fine" can be replayed later to argue fault or minimize your injury, even if that's not what you meant.
If you don't
You can still file your claim and get paid what you're owed. You simply confirm basic facts, keep the detailed account for your own insurer, and let the police report and evidence speak for themselves instead of your unscripted words.
A call that came faster than expected
A driver was rear-ended at a stoplight and had a mild headache that evening but felt otherwise okay. The next morning, before they'd even called their own insurance company, an adjuster from the other driver's insurer called asking for a recorded statement about how the crash happened and whether they were hurt.
The driver said they were glad to confirm the date, location, and that a collision occurred, but explained they weren't comfortable giving a full recorded statement yet since they were still being checked out and wanted their own insurer involved first. The adjuster pushed gently, but the driver held firm and asked for everything in writing going forward. Two days later, the headache turned out to be a minor concussion. Because the driver hadn't said "I'm fine" on a recorded line, there was nothing contradicting the diagnosis, and the claim moved forward without the other company disputing the injury's timing.
