A vehicle accident case can be settled before ever going to trial, or at any point during litigation. However, the process for these two circumstances can vary.
In either case, a settlement involves having a release agreed to, signed, or orally acknowledged. There are several things to consider before agreeing to release. One of which is understanding that a release is a contract, so it requires thorough review before agreeing to its terms.
Generally, once a settlement amount is agreed to, a release is sent over by the insurance company. The parties will then read and negotiate through the release to make sure that it contains necessary information and removes anything the parties do not want. Not having an experienced attorney during this process puts a claimant at a severe disadvantage. There have been many instances of people being severely injured in an auto accident signing a release that does not meet their needs. For this reason, it is often essential to speak with a local attorney before settling a car accident claim.