Can a personal injury case ever be reopened after it's settled or gone to trial? In most cases, the answer is no. When a case is settled, the insurance company will require you to sign a release stating that you are no longer going to sue the individual who the insurer insures.
The reason for this is the insurance company will not want to continue defending claims for further injuries down the road. If you settle your claim early on for $5,000 for example, the insurance company may see this as a win when you may have been able to receive $20,000. Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can help you avoid pitfalls such as settling a case too early.
How Can I Avoid Settling Too Early?
1. Have a lawyer fight for you. Did you know that personal injury attorneys get their clients on average 3.5 times the amount of money than the accident victim could get themselves according to the Insurance Research Council?
2. File your claim immediately. Never wait until the deadlines are approaching to file your claim. Be aware of the statutes of limitations and other deadlines that relate to your claim. After getting injured in an accident, one of the first things you should do is call an experienced personal injury attorney as it could take weeks or months of negotiation to receive the max amount for your case.
3. Be aware of what you sign. You should never sign any form or cash a check from the insurance company without a lawyer to review it first. If you're signing paperwork on your own, you may be signing your rights away eliminating any chance to receive further compensation for your injuries in the future.
Want to know more about your claim? Download my FREE guide 'What the Heck Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?' available on our website or call us at (561) 671-5995.