What Not to Say to Insurance After a North Hollywood Car Accident

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local North Hollywood Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. A Woodland Hills native and El Camino Real graduate, he earned his law degree at UCLA and has spent his career representing injured clients across the San Fernando Valley.

The insurance adjuster on the phone sounds like they're trying to help. They're asking how you're doing, what happened at the intersection of Lankershim and Oxnard, and whether your car is driveable. The conversation feels casual. It isn't. Every word you say is being evaluated for ways to reduce your claim. Here are the specific things you should never say.

"I'm Fine" or "I'm Not That Hurt"

This is the most common and most damaging thing people say after a North Hollywood car accident. You're running on adrenaline. You're trying to be polite. You say something like "I'm okay" or "I think I'm mostly fine."

Three weeks later, after the adrenaline has worn off and you've been diagnosed with a herniated disc at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, the insurance company pulls out your recorded words and argues that your injuries either aren't from the accident or aren't as serious as you claim. They'll say: "You told our adjuster you were fine on June 24th. Your medical records show you didn't seek treatment until July 8th. We don't believe your current symptoms are related to this accident."

Instead of commenting on your condition, say: "I'm still being evaluated by my doctor and I don't have a complete picture of my injuries yet." That's honest and protects you.

"It Was My Fault" or "I'm Sorry"

California is a comparative fault state. Even offhand apologies or casual admissions can be used to assign a percentage of fault to you, and every percentage point reduces your compensation.

Maybe you were making a left turn from Magnolia Blvd onto Tujunga Ave and the other car was going faster than you expected. Saying "I'm sorry, I should have waited" feels natural, but the adjuster writes it down as an admission. Even if the other driver was speeding, your apology gives the insurer ammunition to argue shared fault.

Stick to facts. "I was turning left on a green arrow when the other vehicle struck my passenger side." No editorializing. No apologies. No speculation about what you should have done differently.

"I Think" or "Maybe" or "I'm Not Sure, But..."

Speculating about what happened is dangerous. If you didn't see the other car before impact, don't guess about where it came from or how fast it was going. Say: "I don't know. I'll need to review the police report from LAPD North Hollywood Division before I can discuss the details."

Vague statements create openings. "I think the light was yellow" is much worse for your case than "I don't recall the exact signal phase." The adjuster will latch onto the most harmful interpretation of anything ambiguous you say.

Detailed Descriptions of Your Daily Activities

The adjuster might ask casual questions about what you've been up to since the accident. "Have you been able to get around okay?" "Are you back to your normal routine?" These sound like small talk. They're not.

If you say "I've been walking to the coffee shop on Lankershim most mornings" or "I went to a show in the NoHo Arts District last weekend," those statements will be framed as evidence that your injuries aren't limiting your activities. Even if walking to get coffee causes you significant pain, the adjuster records the activity, not the pain.

Keep your answers short. "My doctor has given me activity restrictions and I'm following them." Don't elaborate.

Anything About Pre-Existing Conditions (Without Legal Guidance)

"I've had some back problems before" is an invitation for the insurer to blame every symptom on your pre-existing condition rather than the crash. California law says they owe for aggravation of a pre-existing condition, but proving the distinction requires careful medical documentation and strategic communication.

If asked about prior injuries, prior medical treatment, or your medical history, the correct answer is: "I'll provide my medical records through my attorney." Do not volunteer information about your health history in a phone call with an adjuster.

"I Haven't Talked to a Lawyer Yet"

When an adjuster knows you're unrepresented, they move differently. They push for the recorded statement. They make early settlement offers. They know that statistically, unrepresented claimants accept lower settlements.

If you haven't hired an attorney yet, you don't need to tell the adjuster that. You can simply say: "All communication should go through my attorney" or "I'm not prepared to discuss the claim at this time." There's no obligation to disclose whether you have representation.

Social Media Posts Count as Statements Too

Everything you post on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any public platform can be discovered and used in your claim. Adjusters and defense attorneys routinely review claimants' social media profiles.

You don't need to delete your accounts, and doing so could be seen as spoliation of evidence. But you should stop posting about your physical activities, your mood, your outings, or anything that could be interpreted as inconsistent with the injuries you're claiming. A photo of you at a birthday party at the Federal Bar in the NoHo Arts District, even if you spent the whole time sitting in pain, becomes "evidence" that you're not as injured as you say.

What You Should Say Instead

When the other driver's insurer calls, keep it to one sentence: "I won't be providing a statement at this time. Please send any correspondence to me in writing." Then contact a North Hollywood car accident lawyer before your next conversation with anyone from the insurance company.

When your own insurer calls, report the basic facts: date, time, location, police report number, and that you're under medical care. Then stop talking and let your attorney handle the rest.

Steps to Protect Your Claim After a North Hollywood Car Accident

The actions you take in the hours and days after a crash on Lankershim Blvd, Magnolia Blvd, the 170 Freeway, and Chandler Blvd directly affect the strength of your claim. First, get medical attention even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain, and many car accident injuries, particularly soft-tissue damage to the neck and back, do not produce symptoms until 24 to 72 hours after impact. Go to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank or your primary care physician as soon as possible. The medical record from that visit becomes the foundation of your injury claim.

Second, do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media. Insurance adjusters routinely review Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for any content they can use to argue you are not as injured as you claim. A photo of you smiling at a family gathering can be used against you, even if you were in significant pain at the time.

Third, keep a daily journal of your symptoms, pain levels, and how your injuries affect your daily activities. Note which days you cannot drive, cannot sleep comfortably, or cannot perform your normal work duties. This contemporaneous record becomes powerful evidence when negotiating your settlement or presenting your case at Van Nuys Courthouse West.

Fourth, preserve all evidence. Do not repair your vehicle until it has been thoroughly photographed and documented. Keep all medical bills, receipts for prescriptions, and records of any out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries. Save the police report number and request a copy from the investigating agency.

L&F Brown represents car accident victims throughout North Hollywood. Once you retain us, the insurance companies talk to us, not you. That shift alone protects you from every mistake described in this article. Visit our North Hollywood personal injury page or call for a free consultation.