Be Careful With Documents After An Accident
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
One of the most challenging things to do in the wake of an accident is to maintain a calm, thoughtful composure. Unfortunately, as challenging as it may be to do this, it can often be one of the critical elements in helping people to avoid issues that could later turn into major problems.Being calm right after an accident, for example, can often lead to better results for getting help and medical treatment. In the hours and days after that accident, it can sometimes be crucial in helping to avoid legal problems that may impact your financial ability to recover.
Signed Too Soon In Ottawa
In Canada’s national capital, the city of Ottawa, Claude Levesque was struck by a public bus on the morning of September 24th, 2019. He died at the scene of the accident. He was survived by two children, a teenage son, and daughter. While the surviving children were struggling with their grief, they were approached by the municipal government and advised to sign release forms. They were told that the release forms would grant them a settlement in exchange for not taking legal action for the accident.
They signed the releases and were paid out $10000 and $5000 respectively. It was only later, once they were calmer and had talked to more legal experts, that they found out that they could have undertaken a lawsuit for much more than the money they received.
A Vulnerable Time
Unfortunately, this type of occurrence is all too common in accident situations. Often this situation is the result of insurance companies taking advantage of the emotional vulnerability of people shortly after an accident who just want everything resolved quickly. A settlement offered at this stage, especially if there’s a good chance the accident victim can win in court due to evidence, is a way to neutralize such a lawsuit by “heading it off at the pass.”
These fast, secure short-term settlements are usually far lower than the amount that could be justifiably received through a lawsuit. Of course, the cost of such a speedy settlement is legal protection. Once the settlement is signed and the money is received, the insurance company now has a document that can be submitted to a court, stating that you willingly waived all rights to future legal action.
Resist The Temptation
This is why it’s important to try to remain calm in the hours and days after an accident, and, above all else, not to act too hastily. Businesses like insurance companies will respond quickly to eliminate you as a potential legal threat. They will put pressure on you to sign and receive a settlement as soon as possible, citing the convenience of getting things done quickly.
However, acting quickly can mean you have effectively reduced your chances for a long term, successful outcome. Always remember that while a company may put pressure on you to sign a settlement quickly, you are in no way legally required to obey their request. Take the document they give you, look it over, and, if you are unsure of how beneficial the settlement is, bring it to an expert for an assessment.
We Can Help
If you’ve been in an accident and you’ve been offered a settlement, be very careful. Take your offer to a legal practice experienced in personal injury cases, like ours, and let us assess the settlement, hear your situation, and see if you are being pressured into accepting an offer that is much less than what you are legally entitled to. We can help set you straight and make it clear what your best legal options are, not what your fastest one is.