From the time you get into an accident until the time you reach a settlement agreement for your damages, a lot of time can pass by. In many cases, this takes months or even years, but eventually, you must reach an agreement. When you do, you will have to sign a settlement agreement, and here are three things you should do before signing it.
Seek legal advice and assistance
It is so important to seek legal advice and assistance during any type of car accident case, as it is hard to understand all your rights in a case if you have never gone through one before. Seeking legal advice is easy to do, as all it requires is making a phone call to a personal injury lawyer. The lawyer you speak to will be able to review the facts of your case and help you determine if the offer amount is fair. If it is, then signing the agreement might be the best option you have. If the attorney thinks you could get a lot more money for the settlement, he or she may recommend fighting the case.
Wait long enough to know the full extent of your injuries
Secondly, it is always important to fully understand the extent of the injuries you now have from the accident before settling. The settlement you receive should include enough money to compensate you for the effects of the injuries in the future. If your injuries have already healed and you expect to never have another problem from them again, then you can likely settle now and not have to worry about it as much. If, on the other hand, you have to worry about how the severe injuries you have will affect your life in the future, you will probably need to ask for more money in your settlement.
Understand that signing this form closes the case
The final thing to understand is that you will never be able to ask for any more money for your accident once you sign the settlement agreement. Signing this form closes the case, and it prevents you from ever seeking more compensation from the other party again.
A settlement agreement basically closes the case and prohibits you from seeking any further compensation for your injuries. Because of this, make sure you fully know what you are signing and always talk to a lawyer before you settle.
Contact a firm like Campbell Barnett PLLC for more information.
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