Talking to Insurance Companies After a Personal Injury Accident

 Posted on April 14, 2026 in Personal Injury

The most important person to speak to after you have been hurt in a personal injury accident is your doctor. For many reasons, seeking and obtaining the appropriate medical treatment should be of paramount importance after you have been injured. However, if your injuries have been caused by another person, that person’s insurance company will try to take your statement (usually recorded) as soon as possible. This initial communication can determine how much of your health or other expenses the company will cover. 

You should think twice before speaking to the adjuster immediately after your accident. A Joliet, IL personal injury lawyer can advise you of your rights and make sure you are protected when conversing with insurance representatives. At McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC, we are a mid-size law firm that has been helping clients for over 20 years, making us a reliable source of legal advice and advocacy in cases such as these.

What Is the Insurance Company’s Goal After an Accident?

The goal of an insurance adjuster is to get you to admit complete or partial fault or downplay your injuries so that the company can save money. That is why the insurance company may contact you immediately after a vehicle accident or other injury. This is commonly when you are least prepared to talk to them. 

In Illinois, that can matter a great deal because the amount of fault assigned to you can affect how much money you recover. If you are found partly at fault, your compensation can be reduced. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you may be barred from recovering damages at all (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). That gives the insurance company a strong reason to look for statements it can use against you. Even a simple comment can later be twisted into an admission of fault.

Why It’s Risky To Give Recorded Statements to an Insurance Adjuster

There are several reasons why you should not conduct a recorded interview with an insurance adjuster without consulting your personal injury attorney.

If an insurance adjuster calls you the day of (or the day after) your accident, you may honestly answer that you do not feel injured. Unfortunately, it is common not to notice some of your injuries until a couple of days after the incident. Once the adjuster has your statement on record, the insurance company can use it against you when determining your claim. 

Furthermore, even when you know you have been hurt after an accident, you will not know the full extent of your injuries until seeing a medical professional. You may also find yourself mentally or emotionally vulnerable in the hours and days after an accident. If you suffered through a traumatic experience that may prevent you from thinking clearly, you do not want to be held accountable for statements you made when you were upset or exhausted.

Do You Need To Give a Statement to an Insurance Company Immediately After an Accident in IL?

Many insurance adjusters present themselves as being personable and sympathetic during conversations, and in fact, many of them are. However, some adjusters may try to pressure you into giving an immediate statement, saying that it is needed to start your claim. This is not true, and your claim is best served by waiting to confirm your diagnosis and the medical treatment that is necessary. It is more important for your claim to accurately cover your medical needs than to rush into the processing of that claim.

The insurance adjuster cannot force you to say anything or record you without your permission. You should respond to immediate phone calls by saying that you need time to consult with your attorney before making any official statements that may affect your claim. You should then talk to an experienced attorney about your case.

What To Do if You Get an Offer From an Insurance Company in 2026

Getting a settlement offer can feel like a relief. You may have medical bills coming in, missed paychecks, and a lot of stress. The insurance company may act like it is helping you move on quickly. Still, the first offer is often not the best offer.

Insurance companies usually want to close claims for as little money as possible. An early offer may leave out future medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, or other losses that are still becoming clear. Once you accept a settlement, you usually cannot go back and ask for more money later. That is why it is important to slow down and look closely at what is being offered.

You should not accept a first offer without having it reviewed by an attorney. A lawyer can look at your medical records, lost wages, and other damages to see whether the amount is fair. Your attorney can also handle communication with the insurance company so you do not feel pressured into saying yes too soon. In many cases, a careful review can show that your claim is worth more than the insurer first offered.

What if the Insurance Company Won’t Agree to a Fair Settlement After an Accident?

Sometimes an insurance company refuses to be reasonable. It may keep denying fault, arguing about your injuries, or making offers that do not come close to covering your losses. When that happens, your claim may need to move beyond settlement talks.

An attorney can escalate the claim to litigation by filing a lawsuit. That does not always mean your case will go all the way to trial. In many cases, filing suit puts more pressure on the insurance company to take the claim seriously. Once litigation begins, both sides can gather evidence, question witnesses, and build their arguments in a more formal way.

Contact a Joliet, IL Personal Injury Lawyer

At McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC, we understand how insurance companies try to protect their own interests after an accident. Our team can help you avoid costly mistakes, protect your claim, and deal with adjusters from a position of strength. Call 815-727-0100 to schedule a free consultation with our Will County, IL injury law attorney today.