The Elements of a St. Louis Car Accident Injury Settlement
Just because you are injured in a car accident in St. Louis, MO, does not mean that you will need to file a lawsuit in order to obtain compensation for your claim. The fact is, if you have a competent car accident lawyer, he/she should be able to negotiate a settlement prior to filing any documents with the court. There are exceptions to this rule, such as when the incident involves a Missouri wrongful death claim.
The elements of a settlement include an agreement with the insurance company, sometimes referred to as a "Release." The insurance claims adjuster will send your attorney a Release which lists information about the accident and the compensation that is being offered to settle the case. The injury victim is required to sign the Release in order to receive a settlement check. The signature on the Release is a promise of sorts, stating that the victim will not sue the negligent driver or his/her insurance company in exchange for payment of the settlement.
For example, language of a typical settlement release will state: "in exchange for payment of $50,000, the injury party (insert your name) is barred from suing the defendant (insert negligent driver) and his/her insurance carrier (insert insurance company info) for the acts and or omissions of the defendant arising out of the car accident (insert date)." These terms are common and a necessary "quid pro quo" for payment of an injury settlement.
A St. Louis car accident lawyer will be able to provide you with the legal representation necessary to obtain a win in your case and compensation for all of the harms caused.