Should You Talk to Insurance After an Agoura Hills Car Accident?

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Agoura Hills Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, just east of Agoura Hills along the 101, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured residents throughout the Conejo Valley.

After a car accident in Agoura Hills, whether on US-101, Kanan Road, Agoura Road, or a neighborhood street near Old Agoura, the phone calls from insurance companies usually start fast. Your own insurer will reach out. The other driver's insurer will call too. Knowing what to say and what not to say is critical to protecting your claim.

Your Obligations to Your Own Insurance Company

You do have an obligation to notify your own insurance company of the accident. Most policies require prompt reporting as a condition of coverage. Failing to notify your own insurer can jeopardize your ability to use your own coverage, including uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) benefits, medical payments (MedPay), or collision coverage.

However, even when speaking with your own insurer, you should be careful. Stick to basic facts: the date, location, vehicles involved, and that you were injured. Do not speculate about fault, minimize your injuries, or agree to a recorded statement without first consulting an attorney.

The Other Driver's Insurance Company

You have no obligation to cooperate with the other driver's insurance company. Their adjuster works for the at-fault driver's insurer and has one goal: to pay you as little as possible. When they call, they may seem friendly and helpful. They are not.

Common tactics used by the other driver's insurer include requesting a recorded statement immediately after the crash (before you fully understand your injuries), asking seemingly innocent questions designed to elicit admissions of partial fault, and offering a quick settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known.

You should politely decline to give any recorded statement and tell them you are represented by an attorney or that you intend to consult one. Once you have a lawyer, all communication from the other insurer goes through your attorney.

Why Timing Matters

Injuries from crashes on US-101, the Kanan Road corridor, or Las Virgenes Road may not fully manifest for days or weeks. Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries can have delayed symptoms. If you give a recorded statement the day after the crash saying you feel fine and then develop serious symptoms a week later, that statement will be used against you.

If you needed emergency care at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks after the accident, make sure your attorney is aware of all treatment you received. Medical records are central to proving your claim.

What to Say: A Simple Script

If either insurance company contacts you before you have retained an attorney, a simple response works well: "I am not able to discuss the accident right now. Please provide me with your contact information and I will have my attorney follow up with you." That is all you need to say.

Let an Attorney Handle the Conversation

Once you hire an Agoura Hills car accident lawyer, all insurance communications go through your attorney. This protects you from accidentally saying something harmful and ensures your claim is presented in the strongest possible way. Cases are handled in LA County, including litigation at the Chatsworth Courthouse when necessary.

The LASD Lost Hills Station handles traffic incidents on Agoura Hills surface roads; the CHP handles US-101. Their reports become part of the claim record, and your attorney will use those along with your medical documentation to negotiate the best possible settlement.

Visit our Agoura Hills personal injury page to speak with L&F Brown today before you say anything more to the insurance company.