Can a Lawsuit Be Reopened After Settlement?

No, a lawsuit generally can’t be reopened after settlement, so you should consult with a Phoenix personal injury lawyer and give your injuries some time to heal–or not–before accepting a settlement offer from the insurance company.

If you accept a settlement from the insurance company too quickly, you will be out of luck if your injuries leave you with a permanent disability or if new issues pop up sometime down the line after your accident.

Can a Lawsuit Be Reopened After Settlement?

No, a lawsuit generally can’t be reopened after settlement because you typically sign a release of liability contract in exchange for the settlement money. This contract forbids you from going back for more money at a later date.

That’s why if you work with us, our lawyers take the time to ensure your settlement includes all the money you’re entitled to and that you’re happy with the amount before you agree to a settlement.

What Is a Release of Liability Contract?

If you’ve ever had to sign a liability waiver to participate in a potentially dangerous activity, you’re familiar with the basic premise of a release of liability contract.

In the context of personal injury law, a person must sign a release of liability contract–which releases the negligent party from any further liability from the injuries you received in the accident–before accepting a settlement. Once you sign the release of liability contract and accept a settlement offer, there’s no going back.

Can You Change Your Mind After Accepting a Settlement?

No; once you’ve accepted a settlement, you can’t change your mind. When you choose our team to help you with your personal injury case, we ensure you get the best possible settlement so you don’t have to regret accepting it down the road.

Can You Undo a Settlement?

No; once you have agreed to a settlement, you can’t go back and undo it. That’s because you signed a release of liability contract when you accepted the settlement. A personal injury attorney can help ensure you get the best settlement possible the first time around.

For a free legal consultation, call 866-499-8989

Be Wary of Quick Settlements from Insurance Companies

Have you ever thought about how insurance companies make a profit? It certainly isn’t from paying out large settlements. An insurance adjustor’s job is to get you to settle for the lowest amount of money possible to help the company’s bottom line.

Personal injury attorneys know how to negotiate with insurance companies to reach the settlement amount you deserve. And if the insurance company refuses to offer you enough money, a lawyer can take your case to trial and prove that you deserve every dollar you’re asking for.

When to Settle a Personal Injury Lawsuit

While you can start a personal injury lawsuit relatively quickly after your accident, you should wait to settle the lawsuit until after you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is defined by the U.S. Department of Labor as “when the covered illness is stabilized and is unlikely to improve with or without additional medical treatment.”

What Is MMI?

While some injuries heal, others will never fully go away. When an injury has healed as much as it is going to, you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, and you may now have a permanent disability.

You can’t always tell which injuries will heal and which ones will become permanent problems, which is why you should not accept a settlement offer too quickly. If you accept a settlement before reaching MMI, you can’t go back and ask for the money you’re entitled to due to your new disability.

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Factors Determining the Value of Your Injury Claim

A wide variety of factors go into determining how much your injury claim is worth, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• The cost of your past and ongoing medical bills related to the injuries you sustained
• How much work you missed
• Your quality of life
• Whether you now have a disability or chronic pain
• If you were partly at fault for the accident that caused your injuries
• Your pain and suffering
• Whether you can return to your previous job
• If you had any property damaged in the accident
• The overall circumstances around your injuries and the accident
• Details surrounding the at-fault party’s actions

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Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Before Accepting an Insurance Settlement

Since a lawsuit cannot be reopened after settlement, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement from the insurance company.

At Zanes Law, we have a 99% win rate and have recovered over $500 million for our clients. Let us help you get the maximum settlement possible by proving the other party’s responsibility for your injuries, adding up all the money you’re owed, and negotiating with the insurance company directly.

Schedule a free consultation today and receive a thorough case evaluation detailing how much your case may be worth.

Call or text 866-499-8989 or complete a
Free Case Evaluation form

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