Should I Answer Questions from the Other Driver’s Insurance?
You’ve just been in a car accident. You’re shaken, maybe injured, and your phone is already ringing — it’s an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company. They sound friendly, even sympathetic. They just want to “ask a few questions” and “get your side of the story.” Should you answer?
The short answer is no — at least not without speaking to an attorney first. What feels like a routine phone call is often a carefully orchestrated attempt to gather information that can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Know Your Rights
You are under no legal obligation to speak with the other driver’s insurance company. You do not have to answer their questions, provide a recorded statement, or sign any paperwork before consulting with your own attorney. As the car accident attorneys at Perez Law Group advise: call a lawyer first.
What the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Actually Wants
The adjuster calling you does not work for you. They work for the other driver’s insurer, whose goal is to pay out as little as possible on any claim. Their job is to protect their employer’s bottom line — and that often means finding ways to reduce what they owe you.
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals who handle claims like yours every day. They know exactly what questions to ask, how to phrase them, and how to use your answers against you later. Even something as innocent as “I’m feeling a little better today” can be used to minimize the severity of your injuries in a settlement negotiation.
“Because insurance companies are primarily concerned with safeguarding their profits, their employees are trained to devalue or reject insurance claims.”
According to the legal insights published by Perez Law Group, adjusters may phrase questions in ways designed to get you to subtly admit partial fault for the crash — or to downplay the seriousness of your injuries. Once those words are recorded, it becomes extremely difficult to walk them back.
Five Reasons to Decline Until You Have Legal Counsel
- You may not know the full extent of your injuries yet
Symptoms from whiplash, soft tissue damage, and even traumatic brain injuries often take days or weeks to fully emerge. Commenting on your condition too soon can lock you into a narrative that undervalues your claim before you have the complete medical picture. - Recorded statements can be used against you
Adjusters frequently ask for a “recorded statement.” Anything you say can be excerpted, taken out of context, and presented as evidence that your injuries were minor or that you were partially at fault. You have every right to decline a recorded statement. - You may not know all the facts of your own case
Police reports, witness accounts, and traffic camera footage may reveal details you weren’t aware of at the scene. Answering questions prematurely — before a thorough investigation — can lead you to make statements that contradict the evidence later uncovered. - Early settlement offers are almost always low
If the adjuster is being especially friendly, it could be because they want to fast-track a settlement before you understand what your case is truly worth. As the Perez Law Group car accident attorneys note, victims consistently underestimate the value of their own injuries and losses — and insurers are counting on that. - Arizona law does not require you to cooperate with the other side’s insurer
While your own insurance policy requires you to cooperate with your insurer, you have no such obligation to the at-fault driver’s carrier. Politely declining to answer their questions is perfectly legal and often the smartest move you can make.
What Should You Say When They Call?
You don’t need to be rude or evasive — simply be brief and non-committal. You can confirm the basic facts (that an accident occurred and that you are seeking medical attention) and then let the adjuster know that all further communication should go through your attorney.
Safe to Confirm
Avoid Saying
What Happens When a Lawyer Handles Communications for You
One of the most immediate benefits of hiring a Glendale car accident attorney is that all contact with insurers goes through them. You no longer have to worry about accidentally saying the wrong thing or being pressured into a premature settlement.
Experienced attorneys understand the tactics adjusters use and know how to counter them. They can evaluate your policy, calculate the true value of your losses — including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs — and negotiate aggressively on your behalf. In many cases, simply having legal representation causes adjusters to take a claim more seriously and offer a fairer amount.
If negotiations break down, an attorney can file a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court and take the case to trial if necessary. The car accident lawyers at Perez Law Group are prepared to go to court when insurers delay or deny fair payment.
But What About My Own Insurance Company?
Your obligation to cooperate with your own insurer is different. Your insurance policy typically contains a cooperation clause that requires you to assist in their investigation of the accident. You should report the accident to your own carrier promptly.
Even so, it is still wise to consult with an attorney before providing detailed statements to any insurance company — including your own. An attorney can help ensure your words are not misconstrued and that your rights under your own policy are fully protected.
Special Situations to Watch For
The Bottom Line
Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough without navigating the tactics of an opposing insurance company on your own. The other driver’s insurer is not on your side — they are on theirs. Every piece of information you voluntarily provide can potentially be used to limit your recovery.
The safest course of action is to be polite but brief on any call from the other driver’s insurer, decline to provide a recorded statement, and contact a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can handle all communications on your behalf, protect your rights, and fight to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in the Phoenix area, the legal team at Perez Law Group, PLLC offers free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.
