For those who receive a personal injury release form, consider your options carefully – if you sign the form, you may be giving up your right to pursue compensation from anyone who caused your injury. At this point, it is beneficial to consult with a Knoxville personal injury lawyer who can explain your legal options.
The team at Hotz & Associates, P.C. has decades of experience in successfully handling personal injury cases. We can inform you of the ins and outs of personal injury settlement release forms, including how they work and the risks associated with signing. Keep reading for more.
What’s the point of a personal injury liability release form? What exactly does it do?
When you sign a personal injury release, you remove an at-fault party from liability. For instance, if you are involved in a car accident caused by a negligent motorist, you can sue this driver for compensation. However, if you sign a personal injury release, you waive your right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent motorist.
Who’ll give you a personal injury release form?
An insurance company is likely to give you a release form. They may do so just days after you suffer an injury that occurs due to someone else’s negligence. An insurer may even put pressure on you to sign the agreement right away since it represents their client’s best interests for you to approve the release. Don’t give in to their pressure – protect your rights by working with a Knoxville personal injury lawyer.
What’s included in a personal injury liability release agreement?
There’s no such thing as a “standard” release agreement. Each insurer has its own agreement in place. A release will typically include the following elements:
- A settlement amount and how you’ll receive it (via a lump sum or a structured settlement)
- A confirmation that your claim has been settled and that the at-fault party or their insurer has no further obligations to pay you any additional damages
- A waiver that confirms you are giving up your right to file another lawsuit relating to the same incident
- A statement that verifies that you are responsible for resolving a lien or any third-party interests relating to your settlement
- A stipulation that indicates that neither party accepts blame once the release is signed by all parties
The team at Hotz & Associates, P.C. has a great track record in personal injury cases. We have helped our clients get outstanding case results in lawsuits involving motorcycle crashes, slip and fall accidents, and other personal injury claims. For more information, please get in touch with us.
What do I need to be on the lookout for?
With a waiver of liability, you should not give up your right to seek punitive damages against the defendant. You should also verify who is being released from responsibility for your injury. Along with these things, a release should verify that you have not recovered all possible damages, as this may allow you to pursue additional compensation.
How much time do you have to file a personal injury claim?
If you decide against signing a waiver of liability, you can file a personal injury claim per Tennessee’s statute of limitations. You have up to one year from the date you suffer a personal injury to submit a personal injury claim. It is in your best interests to file your lawsuit as soon as you can. If you wait too long, you may lose the right to seek damages.
What should I do if I get a personal injury release form?
Hotz & Associates, P.C. can help you figure out what to do with a personal injury release. If you have a valid personal injury claim, we will do everything we can to help you get the most compensation possible. Please contact us online or call us at (865) 582-0042 to schedule a free consultation.