Before you accept the first offer

Sometimes an offer arrives quickly, with a cheque and a form to sign. For a scratched bumper that can be fine. For an injury, the speed is worth questioning.

What signing usually ends

Most settlements come with a release: a document saying the claim is finished. Once it is signed, you generally cannot go back for treatment you did not know you would need, or for wages you had not yet lost. Read the release itself, not only the letter that comes with it.

Questions to ask yourself first

• Has my doctor said I am finished with treatment, or am I still being seen?
• Do I know whether I will need therapy, surgery or time off later?
• Does the offer cover the car, the medical bills and the missed work, or only one of them?
• Is my health insurer or anyone else expecting to be paid back out of this?
• Do I understand everything the release says I am giving up?

If the answer to any of these is no, it is reasonable to ask for more time. An attorney can read the release with you before anything is signed.

Written by the Crash Next Law team. General information, not legal advice.