After 2025 rate increases, insurers are pushing early recorded statements harder; no, you do not have to give the other driver's adjuster a recorded statement right after a Martinsburg crash.

That "friendly" call is often meant to lock you into guesses before the full picture is clear. On I-81, at the WV 9 cloverleaf, or near summer construction zones around Martinsburg, people often do not yet know speed, lane position, debris source, or whether a road defect or blown tire played a part. If you speculate now, the insurer may later use your own words to argue fault, minimize injury, or say your pain started later.

In West Virginia, the minimum auto liability limits are still 25/50/25 - $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage. When limits are low, adjusters have an incentive to control the story early and cheaply.

What you can do instead is give only basic facts: your name, contact information, the date, location, vehicles involved, and where the car can be inspected. You can say you are still being evaluated and are not giving a recorded statement.

One important exception: your own insurer may require reasonable cooperation under your policy, especially for UM/UIM or MedPay claims. Even then, you do not need to guess. Keep answers short and factual.

Right now, save:

• photos of vehicle damage, roadway, cones, skid marks, debris, and injuries
• the crash report number from Martinsburg Police, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, or West Virginia State Police
• names of witnesses, tow records, and every voicemail or text from adjusters

West Virginia also prohibits unfair claim settlement practices, including misrepresenting facts, failing to investigate promptly, and refusing fair payment when liability is reasonably clear. If the adjuster keeps delaying, denying without explanation, or twisting your words, that matters.