What to do if my vehicle was vandalized and my auto insurer wants an in-person recorded statement?
Question Details: The insurer is settling the claim by paying off my vehicle loan. Knowing insurance companies don't like to give out money like that, they want a recorded statement from me. Do I need an attorney there with me and, if no, can I read off a piece a paper for the recording?
It is rather common these days that auto insurers demand recorded statements as part of their claim investigation. These are generally informal affairs and can even be conducted over the phone. Although called a recorded “statement,” they usually take a question-and-answer format, so you may not have the opportunity to read from a prepared script. A little more formal is something called an Examination Under Oath (EUO), which insurers can also demand. Having a lawyer present at an EUO probably is a good idea. Whether the insurer is demanding a simple recorded statement or an EUO, the policyholder usually is obligated under the terms of the policy to cooperate. Failure to cooperate in these processes can lead to a claim denial that is very difficult to challenge.
