Whether or not you should sign an insurance release will depend on the unique circumstances of your case. Every case is different, and you’ll need to consider what you agreed to in your settlement negotiations with the insurance adjuster and the contents of the insurance release document itself. If you aren’t sure whether or not you should sign an insurance release, seek guidance from an experienced personal injury attorney and consider the following advice.
Carefully Read the Insurance Release
Before signing an insurance release, you need to ensure that the form represents the settlement agreement that you negotiated with the insurance company. Take notes on anything that seems complicated or confusing to you, and be aware of the common terms and language of insurance release documents before deciding whether or not to sign one.
Your signature on an insurance release form signifies your agreement to release or indemnify the insurance company from making future payments. Even if you discover more damages later, you will not be able to seek further compensation. Your signature is also an acknowledgment that the issue at hand is the only issue that you have against the at-fault party. It waives your right to pursue additional claims in the future as well. Further, the insurance release form will express that paying the claim is not an admission of guilt and that the details of the release represent all agreements between yourself, the at-fault party, and the insurance company, so you cannot later say that you were promised more money than you received.
Addressing Questions and Concerns
Whenever you are unsure of signing an insurance release because you have questions or concerns, your best option is to contact a North Carolina personal injury attorney to discuss your options and what your signature will mean. If you received a check along with the insurance release, do not cash it, sign it, or endorse it. You may not be aware of language within the insurance release that if you cash the check, you are agreeing with the terms of release. You cannot go back once you sign it, so it’s important to know what you’re agreeing to before you do. It is perfectly acceptable for you or your attorney to contact the insurance adjuster with any questions you may have and to speak to a supervisor if you don’t receive helpful answers from the adjuster. Remember that you do not have to sign the insurance release, and if you don’t understand it, you should refuse.
You can learn a lot more about signing insurance release forms and what pitfalls to avoid when you seek advice from a personal injury attorney. Your lawyer can review the release and speak directly with the adjuster to address any concerns or discrepancies. If you do sign the insurance release, doing so on the advice of an attorney will improve your confidence in the agreement.
