Your Knoxville Car Accident Questions Answered: What Happens if I Discover a New Injury After Settling with the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company?

If you have been in a car accident in Knoxville, and you already accepted a settlement from an insurance company, you may be surprised to learn that you likely may be out of options if you discover that you have an injury stemming from the accident later. Indeed, in Knoxville, under Tennessee personal injury laws, a signed settlement agreement between an injured car accident victim and the at-fault party’s insurance company usually ends the victim’s legal right to bring their claims in court. But why exactly does signing a settlement agreement with the at-fault party’s insurance company typically bar a Knoxville car accident victim from bringing claims for compensation in court, even if injuries they did not know about before come to light? We answer those questions here.

Your Settlement Agreement with the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company – A Binding Contract

The first thing that Knoxville car accident victims who are contemplating signing a settlement agreement before speaking with a lawyer should know is that a settlement agreement with the at-fault party’s insurance company is typically viewed as a binding legal contract by Tennessee courts. The consequence of this is that a Knoxville court will likely view your settlement agreement with the car accident insurance company as binding and enforceable, even if you discover new injuries that you did not know about. This is because when a Knoxville car accident victim signs a settlement agreement with the at-fault party’s insurance company, they typically sign a release of all claims. This means that they will likely be unable to bring claims for injuries that arose out of the accident, even if those injuries are not discovered until after the agreement is fully executed.

Speaking with a Lawyer Before Accepting a Settlement from a Car Accident Insurance Company

One way that Knoxville car accident victims can help ensure that they are made “whole” under Tennessee personal injury laws, and that they do not walk away with a settlement that is for less than they are entitled, is to work with an experienced Knoxville car accident lawyer. An experienced Knoxville car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and options under Tennessee personal injury laws, and can help fight to get you just compensation due to you. It is important for Knoxville car accident victims to know that there is a limited time to file a claim for compensation under Tennessee personal injury laws, so it is always best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a serious car accident occurs.

If you are in the Knoxville area and you need legal help, contact the experienced Knoxville car accident lawyers at the law firm Fox Farley Willis & Burnette PLLC. The experienced Knoxville car accident lawyers at Fox Farley Willis & Burnette PLLC are here to help victims of serious car accidents get justice for their injuries and losses. Do not hesitate to speak to an experienced lawyer about your case today. Contact Fox Farley Willis & Burnette PLLC and chat with a lawyer now.