A claim settlement is an agreement between two or more parties to settle a legal claim with payment and other terms. One of the most common forms of claim settlement involves an insurance claim, often following a motor vehicle accident. When people make claims against an insurance policy, the company reviews the claim, determines if it is covered under the terms of the policy, and offers a settlement to pay the claim. In some cases the settlement offer is accepted. In some cases, people may dispute the circumstances or amount of the claim, and the case may end up in court.
It is important to know that settling a claim usually eliminates the right to make any future claims about the legal matter. If people are not satisfied with the terms of a settlement, they should renegotiate. Once a settlement is reached, the claim cannot be reopened at a later date.
Legal cases where people are filing for civil damages are resolved with claim settlements as well. Sometimes the person being sued, called the defendant, may offer to settle before the case goes to court, a situation commonly seen when the defendant believes that going to court could result in a costly award or could create negative publicity. In other instances, a settlement is reached during court proceedings, with a judge or jury awarding damages to the plaintiff and the defendant being ordered to pay them.
The terms of a claim settlement require both parties to abide by certain terms. The party paying out is required to pay out in full within a specific time frame. The party receiving a payment may be required to maintain confidentiality regarding the matter.
People who are unfamiliar with the legal system should be aware that a claim settlement can be used abusively. Before signing documents related to a settlement, the documents should be carefully reviewed by an injury lawyer.
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If you have been injured in a car accident that wasn't your fault, it can help to hear that you're not alone. That you do have options, and there are ways to recover some of what you lost financially. It takes money to be able to recover from serious injuries like a hip dislocation and bone fractures, like this car accident victim hit by a distracted driver. Sometimes your best option is to seek legal expertise to make sure you receive a fair settlement for your damages and losses. Here is one client's story.
When you're injured in an accident, it helps to know you're not alone. A head-on collision is one of the hardest events to go through, because the resulting injuries and losses can be catastrophic. As a personal injury attorney, I have helped clients find compensation for head-on car crashes so that they can focus on the best possible life afterwards. Here's a story I'd like to share with you about someone who was hit when another car crossed the median on a highway outside Bellingham, WA.
We take to the roads throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County trusting that other drivers will have insurance. But that’s not always the case. You can well imagine the protocol as it’s supposed to happen after an accident: get medical attention for any injuries, file a police report, and exchange insurance information with other motorists involved. What happens if that last step can’t be followed because the driver has no insurance, or a policy that simply doesn’t cover all of the damages that occurred? So quickly, an already a stressful time just became even more worrisome. Click to learn more on what to do if the driver who hits you has no insurance.
Seeing children hurt is too painful for many of us to bear. When a child is hurt – or killed – in an accident, the loss is catastrophic and feels at times insurmountable to the survivors. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and feel there is no hope. While no one can undo what’s done, there may be help to get you through this time. If the crash occurred because of someone’s negligence, especially in cases of drunk or distracted driving, or poor road safety, the injured child or the survivors may be able to file a claim or lawsuit.
