If you are ever approached by an insurance adjuster with a release of liability after being involved in an accident, you should be very careful with how you proceed.
You are under no obligation to sign a liability release, and it generally is not advisable to do so in the time immediately following an accident when there is still so much uncertainty about the accuracy of the damage estimates for your vehicle and the extent of your injuries.
Any release of liability essentially waives your right to compensation other than the amount specifically stated in the agreement. You should, therefore, avoid signing such a form until you are absolutely certain what your losses (including potential losses) will be as a result of the accident.
Insurance company’s motivations
Consider why the insurance company would press you to sign the release as soon as possible. Remember, they are not working for you—they are protecting their own interests. With your known losses still up in the air, the insurance company can keep its own costs low by getting you to agree to a settlement before the full extent of the accident’s impact is realized. No matter how much the actual costs and losses go up, you’ll be locked in to that fixed dollar figure.
There really is no rush for you to sign a liability release, regardless of whatever strategies an insurance adjuster attempts to use on you.
Your attorney can provide you with further advise through the process tailored to your case. For more information, contact a trusted Manatee County attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.