Should I Talk to the Other Insurance Company
No, let your own insurer talk to them, because anything you say to the other company can be used to shrink or deny your claim.
What to do instead of talking to them directly
- Report to your own insurer first Your insurer is the one working for you. Give them the facts so they can open your claim and start dealing with the other side on your behalf.
- Decline recorded statements If the other company calls asking for a recorded statement, you can decline and ask them to go through your insurer instead. You don't owe them your account.
- Write down what happened Keep your own notes on the accident while it's fresh. This protects you whether or not you ever speak with the other insurer.
- Ask for requests in writing Recorded statements to the other company are designed to find reasons to pay less. Ask for any request in writing and loop in your own insurer before responding.
- Route claims through channels If you need to file a claim against the other driver, your insurer or an attorney can route it. You don't need a direct phone call to start that process.
A driver gets a call the next morning
A woman was rear-ended at a stoplight. She reported it to her own insurer that evening, gave them the details, and filed photos of the damage. The next morning, the other driver's insurance company called asking for a recorded statement about how the accident happened and what she felt afterward.
She didn't answer their questions on the spot. She told them she'd have her insurer follow up and asked them to send anything in writing. Her insurer then handled the back and forth, including pushing back when the other company tried to downplay the damage. Because she hadn't given a recorded statement that could be picked apart later, her claim moved through without the other side finding an opening to reduce it.
The other insurer isn't neutral. Every question they ask you is aimed at paying you less.
Once you know who should be talking to whom, compare quotes from insurers who'll actually be on your side.
Whether you give the other insurer a statement
If you do
They record it and can replay any phrase against you later, even an offhand comment like 'I didn't see them coming.' These statements often get used to shift blame or shrink what they pay for damage or injury.
If you don't
You lose nothing. Your own insurer still handles your claim fully. The other company can request information through proper channels, in writing, routed through insurers or an attorney if needed.
What if the other insurer keeps calling me directly?
You can tell them, plainly, to direct all communication to your insurer or your attorney. You don't have to explain why, and you don't have to keep answering if they call again.
If the calls continue after you've said this, write it down, including dates and what was said. Let your own insurer know the other company is contacting you directly. Repeated contact after you've asked them to stop is something your insurer or an attorney can address for you, and you shouldn't feel pressured to keep answering the phone to satisfy them.
