Often, people do not realize the full extent of their injuries at the time of an accident. Many people, especially those who have been previously healthy, figure they can just “shake it off” after a good night’s sleep. At these vulnerable times, insurance companies will sometimes approach the injured victim, offering a “settlement” ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
When you take their money, offered in the heat of the moment, you have to sign a document called a “release.” The release will say that, in return for their payment to you, you are giving up any right to seek further payment for your injuries.
Many times, I have spoken to people who have realized, only too late, that they have signed their rights away to an insurer who offered them something that “sounded so good at the time.” It is always a sad conversation, when I have to explain to them that by doing this they have given up their right to make the negligent party pay for the full extent of their injuries.
If you are injured- before you settle a claim and give up your legal rights forever, you should strongly consider speaking to an attorney with experience in helping injured people against insurance companies. If you call me - I will be on your side.