The other driver's adjuster is usually friendly, sympathetic, and quick to call. Their job is not to help you. It is to resolve the claim for as little as possible, and the recorded call is where most of that work gets done.
What you are required to do
You generally must cooperate with your own insurance company under your policy. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurer, and you are not required to sign their medical authorizations.
Phrases that get used against injured people
- "I'm fine" or "I'm okay" before you have been examined
- Guessing at speeds, distances, or times
- "I didn't see them" when describing the collision
- Speculating about pre-existing pain or old injuries
- Agreeing that the crash was "just a tap"
A safe way to respond
Provide your name and confirm that a claim exists. Decline a recorded statement politely, state that you are still treating and cannot describe your injuries yet, and refer further questions to your attorney. That single sentence protects the claim more than almost anything else you can do.
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This article is general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.