A recent Court of Appeals decision in a personal injury case demonstrates the importance of hiring a personal injury lawyer right away if you’ve been involved in a car or other accident.
In Bronson v. Hansel, an unrepresented car accident claimant signed a release after a car accident that unknowingly released all claims, including any injuries that might have resulted from the crash, in exchange for a cash payment equal to the amount of his property damage. He discovered the mistake when he later tried to bring a claim for his injuries and was told that the release he had signed included those claims too.
The Court of Appeals held that the release could not be set aside since the mistake was not mutual.
The claimant could have received the settlement or award he deserved if he had contacted a New York City personal injury lawyer before he signed the release.
So, if you’ve been involved in an accident, run, don’t walk, to find an attorney. A Personal Injury lawyer will ensure that your claim is handled properly from the beginning so that the insurance company will not take advantage of you. A NYC personal injury attorney can help you get the settlement you deserve.