Claims Investigations

"May I Record Your Statement? It'll just take a few minutes and everything you say may be used against you, okay?"

May I Record Your Statement? David Pisanic: Often times when I am talking to people, I will try to disarm them by saying; I am just an insurance adjuster. Irwin Kramer: The adjuster may be friendly, but he'd like to poke holes in your story. David Pisanic: I am not a lawyer; I am not a police officer. Irwin Kramer: He may not be a cop, but he still carries a dangerous weapon. The tape recorder. David Pisanic: I am just an insurance adjuster. Irwin Kramer: And this, this is his ammunition. David Pisanic: If you are insured by us, then part of the conditions of that contract or that policy are that you are going to cooperate with my investigation, and that means that you are going to allow me to take a statement from you. Irwin Kramer: When he turns that tape recorder on, be careful, because everything you say may be used as evidence against you. David Pisanic: You can put your foot in your mouth. You can say things that you really didn't intend to say. You can give the insurance company the information you didn't intend to give them. Irwin Kramer: And in fact a transcript will be made of everything you have to say. So a recorded statement really locks you into your story. If you are not a named insured, you don't have to give him a recorded statement and you might want to think twice before doing so. David Pisanic: Because a recorded statement can hurt you. It can hurt you greatly, and in those cases it will hurt you more than it will help you. Irwin Kramer: And if you have any questions about what you should or shouldn't say to this adjuster, consult with a lawyer. David Pisanic: And ask him, look, I have been asked to give this recorded statement, what should I say, what should I not say. If there is ever a question, that's really what you want to do first. If you don't know how the system works, you are not going to do as well.