After a Georgia accident, you will receive calls from insurance adjusters — sometimes from your own insurer, sometimes from the at-fault driver’s company. What you say in these conversations can significantly affect your claim. Understanding adjuster tactics protects your recovery.
The Recorded Statement Request
One of the first things an adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurance company may ask is for a recorded statement. They will present it as routine — just a standard part of processing the claim. You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Politely decline until you have spoken with an attorney.
Recorded statements are transcribed and used to lock you into a specific account of the accident and your injuries. If anything you say contradicts later medical records or deposition testimony, adjusters use those inconsistencies to challenge your credibility and reduce the offer.
Phrases That Hurt Georgia Accident Claims
“I’m fine” or “I’m okay” — said reflexively at the scene or on the phone — becomes evidence that your injuries were minor. “I didn’t see the other car” — an honest admission — becomes a comparative fault argument. “My back was already bothering me” — even said innocently — becomes the foundation for a pre-existing condition defense. Be factual and brief. Do not volunteer information beyond what is directly asked.
Your Own Insurance Company
You do have obligations to your own insurer — your policy requires prompt reporting and cooperation. However, even conversations with your own adjuster should be handled carefully if uninsured motorist coverage or a coverage dispute is involved. When in doubt, let your attorney handle it.
What to Say — and What Not to Say
Report the accident factually: when and where it happened, the other driver’s information, and that you sought medical care. Decline to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer until you have representation. Do not speculate about fault. Do not describe your injuries in minimizing terms. Do not accept any offer without knowing the full extent of your medical treatment and damages.
The Safest Approach
Once you have retained a Georgia accident attorney, all communication with insurers goes through that attorney. Adjusters know they cannot contact represented claimants directly. This removes the pressure of these conversations entirely. Request a free evaluation before the first adjuster call if at all possible — the earlier you have representation, the better protected your claim is from day one.