Hurt in a semi-truck accident? You are not alone. The Arizona Department of Transportation (AZDOT) reports that there were 107 fatal commercial truck accidents reported in the state in 2023. There were many hundreds more injury crashes. Following a collision, it is normal to have a ton of questions about your case. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on any insurance company to look out for your best interests. Here, our Gilbert semi-truck accident attorney explains why you should avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster after a commercial truck accident.
You Should Not Give a Statement to an Insurance Company After a Truck Accident
Soon after a tractor-trailer crash in Gilbert, you may get a phone from an insurance adjuster. Indeed, insurance company representatives often try to talk to victims relatively shortly after a crash. Here are two of the most important things that you need to know:
- You have the right to take time to recover from your injuries and gather your thoughts;
- You are not required by law to give a recorded statement to a truck company’s insurer.
Indeed, you should avoid giving any such statement until you have had an opportunity to consult with a truck accident lawyer. Unfortunately, giving a statement to an insurance company immediately after a truck accident can jeopardize your claim.
Four Reasons to Beware of Giving a Statement to Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters have a job: They are focused on protecting the bottom line of their employer. In other words, they do not have your best interests at heart. The reason that they want a statement so soon after a crash is that they are looking for information that they can use against you in the personal injury claims process—either to reduce the value of your settlement or even to deny your truck accident claim outright. Here are four reasons to avoid giving a statement:
- They are Building a Defense, Not “Fact-Finding”: Insurance adjusters often present themselves as simply gathering facts. However, they are anything but independent, neutral fact-finders. Quite the contrary, their primary goal is to defend their company’s financial interests. Indeed, their questions are designed to uncover information that can limit their liability in your case. Any details you provide will be scrutinized and potentially used to build a defense against your claim.
- They Can Easily Twist Your Words: Sadly, your words can get twisted. Even innocent remarks can be manipulated by insurance adjusters to weaken your claim. They are skilled in interpreting statements in ways that favor the insurer, not the injured party. For example, a casual comment about your health or the accident can be taken out of context to suggest you were at fault. With this in mind, it is essential to communicate with insurers through your Gilbert semi-truck accident attorney.
- They Often Try to Pin Some Blame on the Victim: Arizona is a fault-based semi-truck accident state. Insurance adjusters frequently attempt to shift some responsibility for the accident onto the victim to reduce the compensation amount. By suggesting you contributed to the accident, they can justify offering a lower settlement. It is a strategy common in negotiations. A finding of partial fault—even a small amount of fault—can reduce the value of your case. It could even take thousands of dollars out of your settlement.
- They May Attempt to Downplay Your Injuries: Insurance adjusters might question the severity of your injuries to minimize the claim value. They often request medical records under the guise of verifying injuries but seek ways to attribute them to pre-existing conditions. By downplaying the impact of your injuries, they aim to reduce the amount they are liable to pay.
Best Practice: Work Through an Insurer Through Your Gilbert Truck Accident Attorney
You do not have to take on a trucking company or its insurance carrier alone. The best thing that you can do after a semi-truck accident is to consult with a Gilbert, AZ, truck accident lawyer. Your attorney can handle all of the correspondence with insurance adjusters. They handle your statement (if you need to give one), represent you in settlement negotiations, and develop a strategy to help you secure the absolute maximum compensation. You may be able to recover damages for vehicle repairs, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Contact Our Gilbert Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer Today
At Free Injury Legal Advice, our Gilbert semi-truck accident attorney is a compassionate, experienced advocate for injured victims. Beware of insurance adjusters—they are not on your side. Hurt in an 18-wheeler crash? We are more than ready to help. Get in touch with us by phone or connect with us online for your free consultation. With a law office in Gilbert, we handle truck accident injury cases in Maricopa County and all across Arizona.