What Not to Say to an Insurance Adjuster After a Car Accident
At Runion Injury Law, one of the most common mistakes we see car accident victims make is saying the wrong thing to an insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. In New Mexico, where pure comparative fault means any admission can directly reduce your compensation, what you say in the hours and days after a crash matters more than most people realize.
To get ahead of the insurers from day one, contact a Car Accident Lawyer at Runion Injury Law today.
Why Insurers Are Not on Your Side
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to minimize payouts, not to help you recover fair compensation. The adjuster assigned to your claim works for the insurer, not for you. Even seemingly casual conversation can be used to undervalue or deny your claim.
This is especially critical in New Mexico. Under the state’s pure comparative fault rule, if an adjuster can establish that you were even partially responsible for the crash, your settlement is reduced by that percentage. A single careless statement can hand them exactly the leverage they need.
What Not to Say to an Insurance Adjuster
“I’m Sorry” or “It Was My Fault”
Apologizing is a natural reaction after a stressful event, but after a car accident, it can be treated as an admission of fault. Even “I’m sorry this happened” can be twisted to suggest you accept responsibility. Avoid any language that could be interpreted as an apology or admission, no matter how minor the crash seems.
“I Think…” or “I Believe…”
Speculative statements signal uncertainty, and insurers will use that uncertainty against you. If you’re not 100% sure what happened, the safest answer is no answer at all. Let the police report, physical evidence, and your attorney’s investigation tell the story.
“I’m Fine” or “I’m Not Injured”
Many serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, and internal bleeding, have delayed symptoms that don’t appear until hours or days after a crash. Telling an adjuster you’re uninjured at the scene can be used to dispute any medical claims you make later. See a doctor first, then let the records speak.
Any Details About What You Were Doing Before the Crash
Where you were going, who was in the car, what you were doing right before the collision: none of this needs to be shared with an insurer. These details can be used to raise questions about your attentiveness, which could increase your assigned percentage of fault under New Mexico’s comparative negligence system.
Names of Your Doctors, Family Members, or Coworkers
Insurers may contact anyone you mention to gather information about your injuries, health history, or recovery. You cannot control what those people say. Keep third-party names out of any conversation with an adjuster.
Anything While Being Recorded
Adjusters will often request a recorded statement, framing it as a routine part of the process. It is not required, and you should decline. Recorded statements are used to lock you into an account of events that can later be contradicted by new evidence, and inconsistencies will be used against you.
“Yes” to a Quick Settlement Offer
Early settlement offers almost always undervalue your claim. Insurers make these offers before you know the full extent of your injuries or future medical costs. Once you sign a release, you generally cannot return for more, even if you later need surgery or long-term care. If you’ve already received an offer and aren’t sure whether it’s fair, our guides on typical settlement amounts in New Mexico and what happens when you reject an offer are good starting points, but never accept a settlement offer without first consulting an attorney.
What You Should Do Instead
Keep your statements simple and factual. Provide your name, contact details, and insurance information and nothing more. If asked about injuries, say only that you are seeking medical evaluation. If asked about fault, say the matter is under investigation.
Most importantly, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Once you have legal representation, your attorney handles all insurer communication on your behalf, so you won’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing, because you won’t be the one talking to them at all.
How New Mexico’s Fault System Makes This Even More Critical
New Mexico’s pure comparative fault rule means there is no floor on fault assignment. An insurer can argue you were 10%, 30%, or even 50% at fault, and each percentage point reduces your settlement accordingly. This makes every statement you make a potential liability.
Consider this scenario: a driver rear-ended on I-40 near Albuquerque tells the adjuster they were “briefly distracted” before the crash. The insurer uses that statement to argue 25% comparative fault, reducing a $100,000 settlement to $75,000. One sentence. $25,000 gone.
How Runion Injury Law Can Help
After a car accident in Albuquerque or anywhere in New Mexico, the decisions you make in the first 24 to 48 hours can significantly shape your claim’s outcome. Our team at Runion Injury Law has 55+ years of combined experience, a 98% success rate, and has recovered over $30 million for injured clients across New Mexico. We take over all insurer communications from day one, so you can focus on recovering while we fight for what you’re owed.
Ready to protect your claim? Reach out to our team through our contact page for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have to Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company After a Car Accident in New Mexico?
No. You are not legally required to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company, and declining will not hurt your claim. Insurance adjusters request recorded statements to gather information that can be used to minimize your payout. Politely decline and contact an attorney before agreeing to any recorded statement.
What Should I Say When the Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
Keep it brief and factual. Confirm your name and contact information, state that you were involved in an accident, and let them know your attorney will be in touch. Do not discuss the details of the crash, your injuries, or your activities before the accident. The less you say at this stage, the better protected your claim will be.
Can an Apology After a Car Accident Be Used Against Me in New Mexico?
Yes, and this catches a lot of people off guard. Even a reflexive “I’m sorry” at the scene can be recorded in the adjuster’s notes and later cited as evidence you accepted some responsibility for the crash. Under New Mexico’s pure comparative fault rule, that kind of statement can be used to assign you a percentage of fault, directly reducing your settlement. Stick to factual information only, and save any explanation of what happened for your attorney.
What if I Already Said Something to the Insurer Before Speaking With an Attorney?
Contact an attorney as soon as possible. Depending on what was said and when, there may be ways to provide context or counter the insurer’s interpretation. The sooner you have legal representation, the sooner your attorney can take over communications and work to protect your claim from further damage.
How Soon After a Car Accident Should I Contact an Attorney in New Mexico?
As soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of the crash. Early attorney involvement protects evidence, prevents damaging communications from the insurer, and ensures your medical treatment is properly documented from the start. New Mexico’s three-year statute of limitations under N.M. Stat. § 37-1-8 gives you time to file, but waiting can cost you critical evidence and negotiating leverage.
Don’t Navigate This Alone
Every sentence you say to an insurance adjuster is a potential liability, but you don’t have to carry that risk by yourself. At Runion Injury Law, we step in immediately after your accident and take over every conversation with the insurance company, so nothing you say (or don’t say) can be twisted into a reason to lower your payout.
We know exactly how adjusters build their case against you because we’ve spent years fighting them on behalf of injured people across Albuquerque and New Mexico. Our team has recovered over $30 million for clients with a 98% success rate by understanding what insurers look for and shutting down those tactics before they cost you a dollar.
There’s no upfront cost to get us on your side. We work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case, and your free consultation comes with zero obligation. The sooner you call, the more evidence we can protect and the less room the insurance company has to work against you.
See how much we’ve recovered for clients like you and find out what your case could be worth.
Derick Runion is the founding partner of Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, licensed to practice in Arizona and the U.S. District Court, District of Arizona. He founded the firm in 2011 after working in the life insurance industry, where he saw insurers use tactics like post-claims underwriting to deny families the benefits they’d paid for, an experience that pushed him to represent injury victims instead. Since then, he’s helped recover more than $50 million for clients, maintaining a 99 percent case success rate. A Super Lawyers Rising Star (2021) and Arizona State University graduate, Derick is bilingual in English and Spanish.
