Have you been injured in an accident that has cost you pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages? Is the plaintiff’s insurance company putting pressure on you to settle your case and sign a release? If so, you may be wondering when you should sign a release after you’ve been injured. It’s usually best to contact a qualified Oklahoma accident attorney before you agree to a settlement in any kind of Oklahoma accident.
Ever wonder why insurance companies make such an effort to settle with you and get you to sign a release? The answer is simple: a release will absolve them from any future responsibility to compensate you for your injuries and preclude you from reopening your claim and to seeking more money if the need arises. By signing a release too soon, you can be relinquishing your right to pursue adequate and fair compensation for your injuries.
Don’t Sign Until You Know What Your Injury Will Cost You
For his reason, you should not sign anything before you have read it and fully understand what it is you are agreeing to. When an insurance company is sure that is has an obligation to compensate you for your injuries, they will send an adjuster to speak with right away. Their main purpose will be to get your signature on release before they walk out the door. For the insurance company settling your claim as soon as possible can save them money and is the right thing to do. For you however, it may not be.
It is highly likely that you may receive an offer to settle only days after your accident. This offer is likely to based on the assumption that you will need little or no more medical attention for the injuries that you have sustained. So, be prepared and able to describe in detail the nature and extent of your injuries.
Do not sign any release until you no the full extent of your injuries and are fully aware of the medical attention you may require in the future. A Tulsa injury attorney can advise you about costs you may not anticipate. Some injuries may be permanent or long lasting. These kinds of injuries can be difficult to diagnose right away. So, until you and you physician have had ample to evaluate your injuries thoroughly, you should not accept or make any offer to settle.
Never feel pressured to sign a release. Keep in mind that you don’t have to accept any offer if you don believe that it is fair. You can simply let the adjuster know that you are not ready to settle and that you will get back to him or her as soon as possible with a settlement suggestion that you believe will be fair considering circumstances of your case and the full extent of your injuries. If and when you do get back to them, be ready to explain and document the reasoning behind the amount you are requesting.
Free Consultation, Tulsa Injury Attorneys
Lastly, it must be said that you should never sign a release until at least having it reviewed by an experienced personal injury attorney. It takes years of experience and knowledge of personal injury law to properly evaluate the strengths and weakness of your personal injury claim and to be able to determine what it is worth. An experienced personal attorney can assist you in obtaining fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. So, instead of simply making an educated guess at what your claim is worth, seek the advice of an experience Tulsa injury attorney at (918) 924-5528 prior to settling and signing any release.
