This can protect your settlement money and keep a case from blowing up after you get paid. When one person or company offers money to resolve a claim, the wording matters: signing the wrong paper can accidentally wipe out claims against other people who may still owe you compensation. A covenant not to sue is a written promise that you will not file or continue a lawsuit against a particular party, usually in exchange for payment, while not necessarily releasing everyone else connected to the injury.

Technically, it is different from a release. A release of liability usually extinguishes the claim itself against the released party. A covenant not to sue is more like a contract promise: the claim may still exist in theory, but you agree not to pursue it against that person or business. That difference can matter in multi-party injury cases, like a crash on I-95 involving several drivers or a delivery vehicle and a property owner.

Before signing, check who is covered, how broad the language is, and whether it affects liens, indemnity, or claims against other defendants. In Connecticut, timing still matters. The state's general statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, so a covenant not to sue should never distract from filing on time against anyone not included.