If you were involved in a car accident, it’s more than likely that you will be asked to provide a recorded statement. If it is your own insurance company asking for the statement, you might be under contractual obligation to comply. But since your insurance company is theoretically on your side, they likely won’t do anything to harm your case. However, if the other party’s insurance company asks you to give a recorded statement, you are under no obligation to oblige and should almost always decline.
There is little benefit to you providing a recorded statement to the opposing insurance company. They may be trying to ascertain what happened, but that can usually be done via the statements of their own insured, the police report (if one exists), and photographic evidence. More likely, the insurance company is trying to lock you down to statements that can later be used against you. Remember, the other party’s insurance company is NOT on your side, and wants to pay as little as possible.
If I am representing a client, I almost never allow the 3rd party insurance company to take a recorded statement. The circumstances under which I will allow it are rare, and should I allow the statement, I am always with my client when it’s taking place. If you are unrepresented, the chances of you saying something that will damage your case is much greater. Bottom line, if another driver’s insurance company asks you to provide a recorded statement, the general rule is to politely decline.