Agreeing To a Personal Injury Settlement That is Not Enough for Your Damages

There is no doubt that in the aftermath of a personal injury event, feeling stressed, anxious, in pain, and with little patience is common. It is fairly normal to want to quickly get to the part where you have a settlement and a check in the fastest way possible so you can move on from the incident with money in hand. As a result, when an insurance adjuster makes an offer, it may seem valid. Plus, you know that agreeing to it expedites your settlement money.

The issue is insurance adjusters know that it is likely injured claimants are not aware of their rights or the true value of their claim and, they usually are eager to be paid. As a result, insurance agents typically offer very low settlement amounts quickly because they understand that right after an accident, there is a very good chance of having vulnerable injured claimants agree to settle without taking the time to think about the implications of taking the first offer.

Injured parties can be susceptible to the tactics of insurance agents whose goal is to pay claimants as little as possible and which allows claims to close swiftly. Therefore, if you were injured in an accident, taking the time to have an attorney review your case can be advantageous. An attorney can advise you on what your options are, what your claim is worth, your rights, and more. An attorney’s job is to protect you and advocate on your behalf to obtain the full amount of compensation you need for the totality of your damages.

Injured parties in Oklahoma can call the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys at the Putnam Law Office.

Accepting an Out-of-Court Settlement that is Too Low

When a personal injury case is determined in court, there are times when a decision can be appealed. Instances where issues of law and legal errors occur allow for grounds for an appeal. A successful appeal may render the plaintiff a more favorable outcome.

However, the majority of personal injury cases are not decided in court and are instead, settled outside of court. And, out-of-court settlements cannot be appealed. When a settlement is offered and agreed upon, it is binding between both parties. Neither can appeal at this point, no matter what other information or evidence is uncovered at a later time. When a settlement agreement takes place it is final, as a release will be signed by both parties indicating this. 

For this reason, if you settle your personal injury case you must be sure that the settlement you accept and sign off on is for full compensation and recoups the level of damages you incurred. Failure to take the time to understand what your case is worth can mean that you agree to a settlement that will not pay for all of your damages leaving you to take care of them out of your own pocket.

Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today

For assistance after an injury accident with a personal injury claim, please call the Putnam Law Office at (405) 849-9149. You may schedule a free consultation with an Oklahoma City personal injury attorney.