In general, you cannot sue after accepting a car accident settlement in California, but there are some exceptions. If there are multiple defendants in your case, you can settle with one defendant but still sue another. Additionally, you may also file a lawsuit after accepting a settlement if you were a victim of fraud or coercion. If you have more questions, please contact us at Salamati Law for a free consultation.
Legal Ramifications of a Settlement
High speed accidents and drunk driving crashes frequently cause serious injuries, and you may be eligible to receive financial compensation if you were a victim of either one. Settlement offers typically contain language that releases the defendant from all liability stemming from this car accident. A settlement is a legally binding contract. In essence, you are making a deal with the defendant that they will pay you a certain amount of money in return for your legal promise not to pursue further legal action. Some releases also contain language forbidding you from pursuing additional legal action against any defendant–not just the one mentioned in the settlement.
What An Attorney Can Do for You
At Salamati Law, we strongly recommend that you consult with an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer for the following reasons:
- Do you know if the offer is fair?
- Do you fully understand your legal rights?
- Do you know the approximate financial value of your claim?
- Do you understand what you are agreeing to and how that impacts any future legal rights you may have regarding this case matter
When You May be Able to Sue After Accepting a Car Accident Settlement
While some car accident claims pit one driver against another, others may contain multiple defendants. For example, one vehicle may have made an unsafe lane change in front of you, causing you to swerve, and then your brakes failed due to a manufacturing error. You would be eligible to pursue financial compensation from both defendants. In this example, you could settle with the other driver while moving forward with a lawsuit against the brakes manufacturer.
Similarly, if you felt that the defendant coerced you by threatening, forcing, or intimidating you into the settlement, you could still file a lawsuit against them. Along those same lines, you could still pursue a lawsuit with the help of a Los Angeles personal injury attorney after accepting a settlement offer. For example, you find out that the defendant entered into your settlement in bad faith and committed fraud.
Contact us at Salamati Law for a free consultation
For more than 25 years, we have been fighting for the rights of Californians who were injured in car crashes. We thoroughly explain our clients’ rights to them and aggressively pursue the best outcome possible for our clients. If you have been injured in a car accident here in California, call Salamati Law today to schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. We will never charge you anything unless you win your case because we work on a contingency agreement.
