JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

Most personal injury accidents resolve by settlement. Some victims reach a fair settlement by filing a formal legal claim. Other victims are able to reach a fair settlement before they even file a legal case.

When you agree to resolve the case, the other side is almost certainly going to ask you to sign a personal injury release form. What should you do? Our Pennsylvania personal injury attorney team explains what you should do about your personal injury release form.

You should sign a personal injury release form if you agree with the terms of the settlement and if the terms are accurately stated in the paperwork. It’s critical to be sure that the settlement form states the entire agreement correctly and in full. Once you’re sure that the form is complete, and you agree to be bound by the terms, you should sign the personal injury release form in order to receive payment for your personal injury claim.

Understanding your personal injury release form

Don’t be surprised when the other party asks you to sign a personal injury release form. It’s a common part of the process of settling a case. In order to receive payment, you have to sign the form. However, before you get out your pen, it’s critical to make sure that the agreement represents your interests.

When you sign the form, the case is over

Once you sign the release form, the case is resolved. The form states that you can no longer bring any kind of legal claim against the other party. The payment that you get is all you’re going to get now and in the future. There may be a few limited exceptions, but don’t count on them. It’s always important to assume that a settlement release is final.

The release may prevent you from other claims

A release states that you give up your right to bring a claim against the other party. However, a release may also state that you can no longer demand compensation from any other party, either. The reason for this is that the party making the settlement, like the insurance company, can be brought back into the case by a third party. If you bring a case against someone else, they may cross-claim against the party that settled with you.

Since the settling party doesn’t want that to happen, they might insist that you release all claims against any party even ones that are not part of the settlement. In other words, it’s absolutely critical to understand what you are signing. A Pennsylvania personal injury attorney may review the paperwork on your behalf before you sign.

Pennsylvania personal injury attorney for release of claims

If you’re considering settling your case, we invite you to let our Pennsylvania personal injury attorney team review your release of claims. Let us make sure that your settlement is accurate and that it fairly represents your interests. Call us today.