Three years is the usual New Mexico deadline to file most injury claims, but the insurer is calling now because the first 48 hours can shape fault, injury value, and what they later argue your case is worth.

Yes, it can be a trap.

A recorded statement before your MRI gives the adjuster a chance to lock you into guesses: how fast traffic was moving, whether the road-work lane shift was clearly marked, whether you "felt okay" at first, whether your knee "just twisted a little." If your MRI later shows a meniscus tear, they may compare it to your early wording and claim you exaggerated, had a preexisting problem, or were mostly at fault.

The better follow-up question is: What information do they need now that they cannot get later?

Usually, very little.

In New Mexico, the at-fault side does not need your recorded statement to investigate a crash in Rio Rancho. They can get the crash report from the responding agency, photos, vehicle damage, witness statements, and your medical records later through a limited authorization or formal discovery if a lawsuit is filed. What they want from you early is language they can use.

Common traps in these calls:

• Asking broad questions about prior knee pain, then blaming age or arthritis
• Getting you to minimize symptoms before swelling and instability fully set in
• Steering you into comments that support comparative fault under New Mexico law, where your payout is reduced by your share of fault
• Prompting you to discuss activity levels or social media posts they can later twist against you

If this happened in a construction zone near a lane closure or flagger, preserve the details now: which lane shifted, where cones or barrels were placed, what signs were visible, and whether heavy equipment blocked sight lines. In New Mexico, especially with the state's high rate of uninsured drivers, there may also be an uninsured/underinsured motorist angle, so the next thing to ask is whether your own policy has UM/UIM coverage.