Auto Insurance Claims: release of claim, dollar check, financial liability

Question
My friendsigneda release form whichis accompanied by a 1000 dollar check, which he has notcashed.  Is he boundby the agreement, upon cashing the check, or signing it is enuf?  He may wish to not accept this offer, he was unsure about

Answer
Hi Clark,

I cannot give legal advise. I am not a lawyer.

Normally, unless specified for other claims (personal injury etc), signing of the check is the release. What makes you friend's situation a little different is that he had a seperate release.


You can have him ask an attorney, because the attorney can be specific instead of my general opinion. Based on my 20 years working with insurance claims, once the release was signed, relieved the insurance company from any more financial liability for repairing the vehicle.

We ran across this many times when repairing vehicles. The insured would sign the check as would our shop. The claim was now settled.
In the event there was supplemental damage, that check went directly to us and the insured recieved no more money.


Rob