After you are hit by a car, be prepared to be hit up by insurance companies offering $500, $1,000, and $2,500 to settle your case. There are some things you should know about those offers. In order to get the money from the insurance company, you will need to sign a release. That means you will have no rights to recover more money for your injuries if they become more severe over time. Some car insurance companies frequently offer car accident victims small sums of money to settle their cases immediately after a car accident. If you were injured in the car accident, you may be entitled to a much greater amount of compensation. Since most personal injury attorneys in South Florida and Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, and Delray Beach offer free consultations, it is best practice to take the offer to a personal injury lawyer and get their opinion. If you decide to hire a lawyer, ask him or her to not take a fee on the amount of money already offered by the insurance company. It will not be uncommon in 2021 for insurance company adjusters to be quick to settle your injury claim for a lot less than what it could be worse.
The insurance companies want you to sign away your rights to recover money for your injuries.
If you cause a car accident, you can be financially responsible for any injuries you cause to other people in the accident. If you don’t have insurance, an injury victim can after your house, wages, and savings. That’s why you buy car insurance, to protect you from financial ruin if you cause an accident. Your car insurance company is obligated to try and protect you after an accident by getting a signed release from the injury victim. Most injury victims won’t sign a release without getting some compensation. However, some insurance companies try to entice victims to accept a quick $500 or $1,000 or even $2,500 to sign a document releasing the at-fault driver from financial risk.
If you sign the release, you will forever waive your right to get fully compensated for your injuries.
The release is a document saying that “in exchange for $500, you agree to never bring a claim against [the at-fault driver]”. Once you sign the release, your case is over. Even if your symptoms get worse over time. Even if your symptoms are delayed during the first several days or weeks after an accident, once you sign, the case is closed. If you were in fact injured in an accident, agreeing to sign the release for $500 or $1,000 is like selling valuable things for a rock-bottom price.
What if you have been offered money by an insurance company and they want you to sign a release?
Stop talking to the insurance company and call a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation and discuss your options. Most car accident attorneys in Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, and Delray Beach will be happy to speak with you about your case for free, including me.