Should You Talk to Insurance After a Westlake Village Car Accident?

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Westlake Village Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, just over the hill from Westlake Village, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career handling injury cases on both sides of the LA/Ventura County line.

After a car accident in Westlake Village, the phone calls from insurance companies start quickly. Sometimes within hours. The other driver's insurer wants a statement. Your own insurer may call too. It can feel like you are obligated to cooperate fully and immediately with everyone who calls. You are not, and the decisions you make in those first conversations can significantly affect the value of your claim.

Understanding which conversations you are legally required to have, and which ones you should decline or approach with extreme caution, is something a Westlake Village car accident attorney can guide you through immediately, often with a same-day free consultation.

Your Duty to Your Own Insurance Company

Your auto insurance policy is a contract, and most policies require you to promptly notify your insurer of an accident and cooperate with their investigation. You must comply with this obligation or risk losing your coverage benefits. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible after a crash on US-101, Westlake Blvd, Lindero Canyon Road, Agoura Road, or any other Westlake Village road.

However, notifying your insurer and giving a detailed recorded statement are two different things. You can report the accident without providing an on-the-record statement that could be used against you. Ask your insurer whether a recorded statement is required under your policy, and consult an attorney before submitting to one.

The Other Driver's Insurance Company

You have no legal obligation to speak with the at-fault driver's insurance company. None. Their adjuster will call sounding friendly and sympathetic, but their job is to minimize what their company pays you. They may ask how you are feeling, which can prompt a response like "I'm okay" that they later use to argue your injuries are not serious. They may ask questions about the crash that are designed to elicit admissions of fault. They may request a recorded statement that you are under no obligation to provide.

The safest approach after any significant crash in Westlake Village is to tell the at-fault driver's insurer that you are represented by an attorney and that all communications should go through your lawyer. If you have not yet hired an attorney, tell them you will be doing so and are not prepared to give a statement at this time.

What Adjusters Are Actually Doing

Insurance adjusters are professionals at gathering information that reduces claim values. They know that early statements given before the full extent of injuries is known are often used to cap damages. They know that people who are not represented are far more likely to accept low offers. They also know that Westlake Village cases can end up in either the Chatsworth Courthouse or Ventura County Superior Court depending on the crash location, and they factor in those venue-specific litigation risks when calculating what to offer.

An experienced adjuster working a Westlake Village claim may quickly research whether the crash location falls on the LA County or Ventura County side of the line, because that tells them which jury pool and which verdict history they face if the case goes to trial. You should have equally sophisticated representation working for you.

Social Media Is Another Form of Communication

Many people do not realize that insurance companies routinely monitor social media accounts after accidents. A photo of you hiking near Westlake Lake, attending an event at the Promenade at Westlake, or playing golf at Westlake Golf Course after claiming serious injuries can be devastating to your case. Adjust your privacy settings immediately and do not post anything related to your activities, health, or the accident while your claim is pending.

Medical Records and Treatment History

Adjusters will also request authorization to access your medical records. Be very cautious about signing broad medical releases. A blanket authorization gives the insurer access to your entire medical history, which they will use to find pre-existing conditions and argue that your current injuries are not from the accident. Your attorney can provide a limited authorization covering only records relevant to your claim.

What to Say If You Must Speak

If you find yourself in a conversation with an adjuster before you have retained an attorney, keep it brief. Confirm only what you are certain of: the date, time, and general location of the accident. Do not speculate about fault. Do not describe your injuries in detail. Do not accept any settlement offer on the spot. And seek medical evaluation at Los Robles Regional Medical Center (215 W Janss Rd, Thousand Oaks) or your own physician right away so your injuries are documented professionally rather than just through your own statements.

At L&F Brown, we handle all insurance communications for our clients, protecting them from the conversations that reduce settlement values. If you were hurt in a car accident anywhere in Westlake Village, call us for a free consultation before you say anything more to any insurer. Visit our Westlake Village personal injury page to get started.