The golden rule in car accident claims, or any claim involving personal injuries, is:

Never settle your claim until you have fully recovered, or your doctor tells you that you are not going to get any better.

In other words, don’t settle until you know the full extent of your injuries and what the future holds.

When you settle your personal injury claim, you will be required to sign a release form where you will release the defendant from any liability from the accident. In other words, you have to promise never to sue for compensation for any injuries resulting from your car accident.

If you agree to a quick settlement with the insurance company a few weeks after your accident and then end up getting laid off because your injuries interfere with your job duties or if your sore neck develops into debilitating chronic pain, the insurance companies response will be: “…you signed the release form, tough luck!”