It usually happens within 72 hours of an accident that was not your fault — and what you say next matters more than almost anything you did at the scene. You’re sore, you’re juggling a rental car and a claim number, and your phone rings with a warm, professional voice: the other driver’s insurance adjuster, “just checking in,” hoping to “get your side of things real quick.”
Every word of that call is being evaluated for one purpose: resolving the claim for as little as possible. That’s not cynicism — it’s the adjuster’s job description, and several of our attorneys held it before switching sides. So here is the guide we’d give our own families: what to say to an insurance adjuster after an accident that’s not your fault, what to refuse, and the phrases — nearly word-for-word — that keep a Riverton claim intact.
Quick Answer: What should I say to the other driver’s insurance adjuster after an accident that was not my fault? Give only the basics — your name, contact information, the crash date and location, and the vehicles involved — and decline everything else politely: no recorded statement, no signed medical releases, no injury discussion beyond “I’m receiving treatment,” and no settlement talk while you’re still treating. You are under no legal obligation to give the at-fault driver’s insurer a recorded statement in Utah, and nothing about your claim requires deciding anything on their first call.
Know the Game Before You Pick Up
Three truths reframe every adjuster call:
- The friendliness is a technique. Rapport lowers guard, and lowered guard produces the quotes that discount claims: “I’m feeling better,” “I probably could’ve reacted sooner,” “it wasn’t that bad.” Warmth in, admissions out.
- The adjuster represents the other driver. Their duty runs to their insured and their employer’s reserves — never to you. Cooperation you owe belongs to your own insurer (and even there, thoughtfully); the at-fault carrier gets courtesy, not access.
- Speed serves them, not you. Utah’s injury statute of limitations gives you four years. Their urgency — statement this week, offer this month — exists because claims settled before injuries fully declare are the cheapest claims they’ll ever close.
The Script: What to Say
When the call comes, this covers everything you actually need to communicate:
- Identity and basics: “I can confirm my name, my contact information, and that the crash happened on [date] at [location].”
- On the crash itself: “The police report will have the details. I’m not going to walk through it by phone.”
- On injuries: “I’m receiving medical treatment and it’s ongoing. I’m not going to characterize my injuries while I’m still being treated.” — This sentence does more protective work than any other on the list. “How are you feeling today?” is not small talk on an adjuster call; a reflexive “better, thanks” ends up in the file.
- On the recorded statement: “No, I won’t be giving a recorded statement.” No justification needed. Repeat as required.
- On medical authorizations: “I won’t be signing any releases. Relevant records will be provided through the claim at the appropriate time.” Blanket releases exist to trawl your history for pre-existing conditions to pin your injuries on.
- On the early offer: “I’m not discussing settlement while I’m still treating.” First offers are priced against a week of records and your presumed impatience — accepting one closes the claim forever, surgery-you-need-later included.
- The universal exit: “I’ll have someone follow up with you.” Then end the call. Politely, every time.
What you should never do on these calls: guess, estimate, minimize, speculate about fault (yours or theirs), fill silences — adjusters are trained to leave them — or agree to “just a quick summary” that is a recorded statement wearing a casual outfit.
Your Own Insurer Is a Different Call — Mostly
You have contractual duties to your own carrier: prompt notice of the crash and reasonable cooperation, including for the PIP benefits that pay your initial medical bills regardless of fault. Report promptly and cooperate in good faith. But keep two nuances in view. If your claim involves your own policy’s UM/UIM coverage — as in the hit-and-run scenarios we covered in our Riverton hit-and-run guide — your own insurer becomes the adversary evaluating your injury claim, and the caution level rises accordingly. And with any insurer, Utah’s claim-practices rules (overseen by the Utah Insurance Department) require fair handling — a standard worth knowing exists, and worth invoking through counsel when handling stops being fair.
When to Stop Talking Entirely and Hand It Off
Some claims can be self-managed to a fair result: no injuries, clear fault, property damage only. But the moment any of these appear — injuries beyond a bruise, an adjuster disputing obvious fault, a recorded-statement drumbeat, a fast low offer, or medical bills outrunning PIP — the calls should stop being yours to take. From the day a Riverton personal injury lawyer takes over, the adjuster is legally required to route communication through counsel: the pressure calls end that afternoon, and every one of the tactics above gets answered by someone who used to run them. Our Utah personal injury practice page covers what that representation includes end to end.
That’s also where our model shows its value: big firm settlements with small firm personal attention. Porrazzo Rawlings Accident & Injury Law has recovered hundreds of millions for injured Utahns, and we cap our caseload so you are never just a case number — one real attorney handles your claim from first call to final resolution, never a paralegal or case-manager relay. When the adjuster calls after that, they’re talking to the person who knows your file completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I legally required to give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement in Utah? No. You have no obligation to the at-fault driver’s carrier beyond basic identification, and declining a recorded statement cannot lawfully be held against your claim.
I already said “I’m fine” on a recorded call. Is my claim over? No. Scene-and-first-week statements about feeling fine collide with well-documented delayed-injury medicine, and prompt medical documentation once symptoms appeared rebuilds the record. Stop giving statements, and get what exists reviewed.
The adjuster says the offer expires Friday. Can they do that? Deadline pressure on early offers is a tactic, not a legal forfeiture of your claim — your rights run on Utah’s statute of limitations, not an adjuster’s calendar. Treat artificial urgency as a signal the offer underprices the claim.
Should I let the adjuster see my social media since I have nothing to hide? Assume they’re looking regardless — and understand that a smiling photo at a family event becomes “claimant appears uninjured” in a file. Lock accounts down, post nothing about the crash or your activities, and never grant access voluntarily.
Let the Next Call Go Through Us — Free Consultation
If the adjuster’s number keeps appearing on your phone after a Riverton crash that wasn’t your fault, you’ve already learned the main lesson: this process isn’t designed for your benefit. Call (801) 553-0505 to speak directly with an attorney before your next adjuster conversation — consultations are free, we’re available 24/7, and with our zero-fee guarantee you pay nothing unless we win or settle your case.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and no guarantees or promises can be made regarding the outcome of any claim or the amount of any compensation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. If you have been injured, consult directly with a qualified Utah attorney about your specific situation.