Updated August 29, 2026
Within days of a crash, an adjuster from the other driver's insurance company may call, friendly and helpful. It is worth being clear-eyed about the relationship: the adjuster works for the insurance company, and the insurance company's interest is closing your claim for as little as possible.
Recorded statements
You are generally not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Adjusters ask early, before you know the full extent of your injuries, because an offhand remark ("I'm feeling okay") can be quoted against the claim later. You can decline politely and provide basic facts in writing instead. Your own insurer is different: your policy requires you to cooperate with your own company.
Fast early offers
A quick settlement offer in the first weeks is usually priced before anyone knows what the injury actually is. Once you sign a release, the claim is over, even if a doctor later finds something worse. There is no obligation to accept the first number, and medical clarity is worth waiting for.
Blanket medical authorizations
Adjusters sometimes send broad authorization forms granting access to your full medical history, not just crash-related records. Those histories get mined for "pre-existing condition" arguments. Records relevant to the crash can be provided without signing away everything else.
Keep the paper trail
- Log every call: date, name, and what was said.
- Put important answers in writing, and keep copies of everything you send.
- Do not guess. "I don't know yet" is a complete answer, especially about injuries.
- Keep treating and keep receipts; the claim is only as strong as its documentation.
When friction means it is time for help
Delays that stretch for weeks, blame shifted onto you, lowball offers, or requests that keep expanding are signs the claim will not resolve fairly on its own. That is the point where having a lawyer changes the conversation. A free consultation with a Long Beach personal injury attorney costs nothing and tells you where you stand. If you still need the collision report, here is how to get it.
This page is general information for Long Beach residents, not legal advice about any specific situation. Agency fees and procedures change; confirm details with the agency before you rely on them.
