An aviation incident can change your life dramatically. The severity of your injuries can cause you to miss work and lose income. The arrival of a settlement offer from the airline involved can feel like a lifeline.
When medical bills pile up, a check that covers your hospital costs can be tempting. However, before you sign the offer, you must understand the long-term legal consequences of accepting.
What a settlement agreement means
A settlement agreement often acts as a legal release. By signing this, you are releasing the airline from future liability, which means you can no longer sue them for the aviation accident. Even if a latent injury emerges months later, you cannot reopen the case. In the eyes of the law, you are legally barred from seeking further damages.
How short-term cash and long-term reality differ
Initially, an airline’s cash offer can seem like it is enough to cover your recovery. Unfortunately, this settlement value does not account for these staggering costs:
- Reconstructive surgeries in the future
- Long-term physical therapy
- Years of lost wages
- Permanent decrease in your earning capacity
- Mental and emotional turmoil
It is important to remember that a fast payout focuses on protecting an airline’s bottom line. Accepting this without considering future implications can put you at a disadvantage.
Protecting your right to full recovery
In Michigan, the general statute of limitations for personal injury is three years after the accident. However, if your flight was international, the Montreal Convention imposes a strict two-year window to take legal action.