Indiana Auto Accident Attorney – Beware of Signing a Release Too Early

Often when someone is injured in a crash or by some other method as a result of someone’s negligence the insurance carrier for the party at fault will come in early and offer a small settlement in exchange for signing a “release”.  An injured person who signs the release gives up all of their rights regardless of how seriously they are injured. It does not matter how many medical bills you have or future medical bills you might have because  a release stops all responsibility on the party at faults behalf. It is not unusual for someone to come to our office after learning that they are hurt worse than they originally suspected. They might have future medical bills and lost wages that they did not anticipate when they signed the release. The reality is that when they sign the release they lose the right to seek fair compensation. You should never sign a release until you are released from you doctor after a thorough examination and period of time to make sure that you are not more seriously hurt that anticipated. Another problem with signing a release it that you might limit or stop your own health insurance companies duty to pay bills if you release the wrongdoer.  You can even limit , reduce or eliminate your ability to make a claim under your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if a release is signed too early and without the proper steps being followed. It is always best to consult with a lawyer familiar with this area of law before signing on the dotted line. It is often too late when you come to a lawyers office with a signed release in hand.