Don’t Sign or Record Anything Too Early After an Accident
Hi, I’m Shane Smith from Shane Smith Law.
This is one of the biggest mistakes people make early in a case:
👉 Signing paperwork or giving a recorded statement before they understand what they’re agreeing to
The Risk of Signing Too Early
Insurance companies may send you documents and say:
- “This is just for your car”
- “This is just an advance”
- “This helps move things along”
But what you may actually be signing is:
A General Release
That means:
- Your entire case is over
- You cannot ask for more money later
- Even if you are seriously hurt
Real Problem We See
We’ve had clients:
- Believe they were getting an “advance”
- Trust what the adjuster said
- Sign paperwork without fully understanding it
Then later:
👉 Find out they signed away their whole case
Sometimes costing thousands of dollars or more.
Property Damage vs. General Release
This is critical:
- Property Damage Release → Only covers your car
- General Release → Ends your entire injury claim
👉 If you don’t know the difference, you should not sign anything
Recorded Statements Carry the Same Risk
Insurance companies often ask for recorded statements early.
But ask yourself:
If fault is clear, why do they need it?
In many cases:
- The police report already explains what happened
- Liability is not disputed
So why record you?
👉 To find something they can use against you
How They Use Your Words
Even small statements can be twisted.
Example:
You say:
- “My neck and back are mainly hurting”
Later:
- Your shoulder or knee starts hurting
They may argue:
“You never mentioned that injury”
Now your case becomes harder to resolve.
The Bigger Issue
Early on:
- You don’t know all your injuries yet
- Symptoms can show up days later
- You may unintentionally limit your own case
And once something is:
- Recorded
- Written
- Signed
👉 It can be very difficult to fix
The Bottom Line
Before you:
- Sign anything
- Accept any money
- Give a recorded statement
Take a step back and understand exactly what you’re doing
Because once you sign the wrong document:
There is no undo button
You can request our free Victim’s Survival Guide to Car Accidents here:
👉 https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/car-accident-victim-survival-guide/
Or visit:
👉 https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/
In pain? Call Shane.
📞 980-999-9999
