Recorded statements capture a person's account close in time to the loss, before memories fade or positions harden. Policies typically obligate the insured to cooperate, which includes providing a statement.
Claimants are under no obligation to give one, though many do before retaining counsel.
Alternative Names:
Recorded Interview, Taped Statement
Why it Matters?
Statements taken in the first days after a loss are frequently the most valuable evidence in the file, because they capture accounts before litigation positions develop. A claimant who describes minimal symptoms or admits a role in causing the incident creates impeachment material that survives the entire case. Once counsel is retained, access typically ends, which is why prompt investigation matters more than thorough investigation conducted late.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Must a claimant give a recorded statement?
Is the statement discoverable later?
