What Not to Say to Insurance After a Studio City Accident

Brian Liu, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Studio City Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Brian Liu is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He previously lived in Studio City and knows the Ventura Boulevard corridor and surrounding neighborhoods firsthand. He graduated from UCLA Law School and has spent his career representing injured clients across Los Angeles.

After a car accident on Ventura Blvd, the US-101 through Studio City, or anywhere in the neighborhood, you may feel pressure to cooperate fully with insurance companies and get the process moving as quickly as possible. That is understandable. But the words you choose in those early conversations can permanently reduce your compensation.

Here is a clear guide to what not to say and why each phrase is dangerous.

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

Adrenaline after an accident can suppress pain for hours or even days. Injuries like whiplash, herniated discs, soft-tissue damage, and mild traumatic brain injury often do not produce their worst symptoms until 24 to 72 hours after the crash. Telling an adjuster you are fine at the scene or shortly after creates a record that your insurer or the other driver's insurer will use to challenge any injury claim you later make.

Instead: tell the adjuster you are still being evaluated and are not yet able to assess your medical condition. Then see a doctor, including one at Valley Presbyterian Hospital if needed, and follow up with your primary care physician.

"I Think I Was Partly at Fault"

California's comparative fault system does not prevent you from recovering damages if you share some blame, but how fault is allocated directly affects your payout. Admitting any degree of fault before a full investigation is complete hands the insurance company a tool to minimize your claim.

Let the LAPD North Hollywood Division or CHP accident report, witness statements, and your attorney's investigation determine fault. Do not make that determination in a phone call to an adjuster while you are still shaken from the crash.

"It Was Just a Minor Accident"

Even low-speed collisions can cause serious injuries, particularly to the cervical spine. Minimizing the severity of the crash, whether by describing the speed, the damage, or the impact, gives the insurer ammunition to argue your injuries could not have resulted from the collision.

"Sure, You Can Record This Call"

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Recorded statements are reviewed word by word by claims teams looking for inconsistencies, admissions, or minimizations they can use. Politely decline and say that all communications should go through your attorney.

"I Accept Your Offer"

Never accept any settlement offer from an insurance company without first consulting a Studio City car accident lawyer. Early offers are almost always designed to close the claim before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept and sign a release, you give up the right to pursue additional compensation, regardless of what you discover later.

"I Had a Similar Injury Before"

Volunteering information about pre-existing conditions or prior injuries gives insurers a basis to argue that your current injuries are not related to the accident. If you had a prior back injury and your back was hurt again in a crash on Laurel Canyon Blvd, you may still have a valid claim for aggravation of that condition, but let your attorney manage that disclosure strategically.

What You Should Say Instead

Keep your statements factual and brief. Confirm the date, time, and location of the accident. Identify yourself and provide your insurance information as required. Say you are seeking medical attention and that any further communications should go to your attorney. Then stop talking and call L&F Brown.

Contact L&F Brown's Studio City team before you speak to any adjuster about your accident.