Jon Groth’s Wisconsin Personal Injury Weblog

In almost all auto accident, motorcycle accident, dog bite or other personal injury cases an insurance company will ask that the injured victim sign a Release of All Claims.  That document means exactly what it says.  It gets the insurance company off the hook for ALL claims (i.e. injuries, wage loss, mileage etc.), past, present or future.

A Release may have language similar to the following:

“For and in consideration of the sum of $____________cash in hand paid, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned (name of plaintiff) does hereby release, acquit and forever discharge (name of defendant and insurance company) from any and all losses, injuries, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, payments, costs, expenses, damages, liability, or grievances of any nature whatsoever which he/she has had, which he/she may now have, or which he/she may hereafter have, which in any manner pertain to, relate to, or arise from any personal injury known and unknown, property damage, known and unknown, or any other loss of any nature whatsoever sustained as a result of the aforesaid vehicular accident which occurred on or about (date) involving the vehicle driven by said defendant and the vehicle driven by said plaintiff.

You never want to sell yourself short, especially when talking about your well being.  Injuries may linger on and on. If you accept a settlement days after the collision but don’t feel 100% you probably won’t be able to get your next doctor’s visit and the lost wages and mileage paid by the at fault insurance company.  Keep that in mind when you are dealing with your “friends” in the insurance industry.

Insurance companies aren’t able to build multi-million dollar buildings, gigantic water falls, balls of art and other expensive things by giving away compensation for injuries.  Their job is to pay as little as possible.  A personal injury attorney’s job is to make sure an injured party obtains compensation for everything that the law allows.  That includes past and FUTURE medical expenses.

www.jonpgroth.com

Jon Groth is a Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney handling cases throughout Wisconsin and most recently in Wausaukee, Milwaukee, Pewaukee and Wauwatosa.