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Do You Have to Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurer? (No)

A friendly adjuster from the other driver’s company calls a day or two after the crash: "Just need a quick recorded statement to get your claim moving." The short answer to whether you have to give one is no.

Plain-English answers to the questions crash victims actually ask.

The duty you have — and the one you don't

Your own auto policy includes a duty to cooperate with your insurer: give them the facts, the report number, and reasonable information. The other driver's insurer has no contract with you. Their adjuster works for the company that pays if you win, so their recorded statement is evidence-gathering, not customer service.

What a recorded statement is for

"I'm fine / just a little sore" — replayed months later against your injury claim.
"I didn't see them until the last second" — reframed as inattention and shared fault.
Speed and distance guesses — innocent estimates that later "contradict" the physical evidence and dent your credibility.
Questions about old injuries — fishing for somewhere else to pin your symptoms.

How to decline (politely)

"I'm not going to give a recorded statement. I can give you the police report number — it's [number] — and you can direct questions there." You can also simply route everything through your own insurer or an attorney. Declining is not suspicious and it does not stop a legitimate claim from being processed.

Reminder: exchange basic facts at the scene, report to your own insurer promptly, and keep injury talk to "still being evaluated" until your treatment actually ends.

Sources & further reading

Just crashed? Start with What To Do After a Car Accident, or find local guidance on your city page.