5 Myths About Personal Injury Law
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
After being involved in a painful slip and fall accident or a traumatic car crash, often the last thing you want to do is go through the process of hiring a lawyer to pursue a personal injury claim. However, a successful personal injury claim is what you need to ensure your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you are entitled to under the law. This compensation can be crucial to paying your medical bills, damages, and other costs related to your recovery.Most people are reluctant to file claims because of the public stigma that exists around personal injury claims and lawyers. Here are just a few of the common myths we are going to debunk for you.
MYTH 1: Personal Injury Lawyers Are Just Ambulance Chasers
All the television shows and movies will portray personal injury lawyers as “ambulance chasers” who are shamelessly running after ambulances to try and take advantage of people who have been injured. These no-good lawyers are always more interested in making money than helping their injured clients.
These villainous caricature of lawyers is not only untruthful, but undermines our justice system that protects those in need. In fact, Florida has strict regulations that make it illegal to contact prospective clients, it especially wouldn’t allow lawyers to go running after ambulances.
MYTH 2: Personal Injury Cases Are A Long And Grueling Process
The majority of personal injury claims are settled before they even go to court. If the parties decide to settle the matter outside of court, they can even achieve a much quicker resolution. While it is true that some settlements do take as long as years to reach, it is much more common for it to take weeks or even days.
MYTH 3: I Don’t Need A Lawyer If My Injuries Are Minor
Most people won’t even file a personal injury claim because they feel their injuries aren’t serious enough to be worthy of a lawsuit. These are precisely the types of injuries that often requires additional attention, since many insurance companies may try to dismiss minor injuries as only requiring a minor settlement. In fact, often the settlement amount offered by insurance companies won’t even cover the basic medical costs and it could turn into a major one down the line.
MYTH 4: The Person At Fault Will Have To Pay Out Of Pocket
This is highly unusual for the individual who caused the accident will end up paying any money. In the majority of cases, the guilty party’s insurance carrier will pay financial compensation. That is because most individuals do not have the assets to make suing them worthwhile and even if they do, these assets can be difficult to access.
MYTH 5: If I Have Insurance, I Don’t Need A Lawyer
Much like any other type of business, insurance companies are trying to make a profit. So in almost all cases, the first settlement offer from the insurance carrier will be less than the full amount of your coverage. In fact, this often isn’t even enough to cover medical bills and all your other recovery costs. That aside, negotiating with insurance companies on your own can be rather tricky since they have a whole team on their side. However, with a personal lawyer, you will have someone knowledgeable and experienced to defend your rights.