What is an Accident Claims Release and Why You Might Need One
Automobile accidents are not only dangerous, but they represent the possibility for future litigation that could ruin you financially – that is, if you’re not fully protected. That’s why it’s not only important to drive safely, but to make sure your car is fully insured and that <em>you</em> will not be the one liable to pay full damages.
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One tool in your arsenal against financial ruin due to an automobile accident is the accident claims release. This form presents a way for you to avoid someone suing you because they essentially agree not to sue you. But as you’ll see, the explanation for why an accident claims release is such a powerful document is a little bit more complicated than that. So let’s take a closer look at this release form and see what it can do for you.
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<strong>First Things First: What the Heck Is It?</strong>
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Imagine, for a moment, that you’ve been in an automobile accident. All drivers and any potential passengers involved are safe and sound, and the damage to the cars is minimal.
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Then, one day in the future, you get served with papers announcing that you’re being sued because the other driver suddenly decided that they <em>had</em> been injured, after all. You might feel deep in your heart that they’re in the wrong, but according to the law, they’re well within their rights to sue you.
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If the other drive had signed an accident claims release, they would not be able to do this no matter what injuries they think they’ve developed since the accident. That’s because a claims release in this case is essentially a waiver of their right to litigation over the incident in question. Like signing a waiver before performing a difficult stunt, the person who signs <em>this</em> release form cannot take any legal action at a later date and expect it to be successful.
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<strong>How Does this Fit in to Your Life?</strong>
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Of course, the obvious difficulty with this document is getting someone else to admit that you were not in the wrong. But sometimes, that’s exactly what you can do – especially if someone already swears to you verbally that this is the case. If you ask them to put down their opinion in writing, an accident claims release is the form you’ll want to use in order to protect yourself from any potential future litigation.
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At this point, you may find that the act of putting such a claim in writing can be daunting for certain people – they may or may not sign it. But as long as you know about this legal form and its potential implications, you’ll be able to download one online and have it signed quickly. That’s the kind of power that legal knowledge can grant you. If you ever wondered why some people advise you to consult a lawyer after such incidents, it’s for forms and advice like this. Don’t let yourself be at risk when you don’t have to be.