Q&A: Are car accident settlements part of the public record?

No, unless the parties want to make the settlement part of the record.

If the settlement ends a lawsuit, the lawyers for the party will prepare an agreed order of dismissal to be entered by the court.

The settlement agreement itself containing the terms of the resolution will not usually be made part of the record. The agreement will provide that the defendant, although not admitting liability, will pay so much in exchange for the plaintiff dismissing the lawsuit. The settlement agreement is itself a legally enforceable contract.

Normally, the agreement will include a term requiring the parties to keep the details confidential.

This is a blog post, not specific legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is intended or created.