Whittier, CA asked in Car Accidents for California

Q: Insurance company wants a verbal statement after an accident, is that normal?

I borrowed the vehicle from my father and got into a fender bender at a stoplight. Insurance company won't answer his questions until they get a recorded verbal statement from me. Is this normal and what should I do? To clarify, my father has told them nothing they don't want anything from him, I'm not a registered insuree on his policy as far as I know and yes I do live at home with him.

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4 Lawyer Answers
Robert Dourian
Robert Dourian
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Pasadena, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Whoa. Hold on there. You may have a big issue to worry about. Namely the insurance company may be trying to find a way out of covering this incident. First, you need to know what your father told them. Are you a named insured under the policy? Did you live at home when you borrowed the car? Anyway, once you figure these issues out, only then can you speak to the company and give them a statement.

Dale S. Gribow
Dale S. Gribow
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Palm Desert, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: see what atty Dourian just said.

if you are at fault, then YOUR ins will protect you IF YOU are covered as an insured driver.

under no circumstances do you want to talk to the ins co for the other side.

Maurice Mandel II
Maurice Mandel II
Answered
  • Newport Beach, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Mr. Dourian and Mr. Gribow are sharp attorneys. I just want to hammer their points home. You should be feeling just like EVE in the GARDEN OF EDEN, and you are speaking to SATAN when you speak with anyone from ANY insurance company. First, you should write out what happened on a paper with the intention that you will be providing it to whatever attorney you retain (if necessary.) Don't show it to anyone but an attorney. Have Dad tell the insurance company to send you a list of questions they want to ask you in the phone interview. If they refuse, contact an attorney. Contact a personal injury attorney anyway and read him your accident description to see if he can see any problems, like Mr. Dourian did. DO NOT TALK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE OTHER DRIVER. And you need to BEWARE that sometimes you are both represented by the same company but different agents are calling for different reasons. Remember the SERPENT and how he seduced EVE with a silver tongue, not threats.

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William John Light
William John Light
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Santa Ana, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Yes, it's normal for your insurer to get your statement and, as an insured-permissive user, you have a contractual duty to cooperate with the insurer.

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