Dispelling The Myths About Personal Injury Law
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
Of all the various types of law practiced in this country, few are as misunderstood or as surrounded by myths as personal injury law. Personal injury lawsuits get a bad rap, but are intended to help those who need assistance recovering from an accident that wasn't their fault. It's well worth taking a closer look at some of the big myths concerning personal injury law and getting to the truth. Here are some of those myths.Myth 1: Personal Injury Law Is Nothing But Frivolous Lawsuits
Thanks to the way that the media portrays many lawsuits, it's common to assume that those seeking compensation are nothing but opportunists looking for a quick buck. But these frivolous lawsuits are usually thrown out of court quickly, and those that can seem frivolous are actually not reported on fully – a headline is designed to be sensational, after all, and the facts aren't always looked at.
The reality is that those who seek compensation are indeed suffering because of their injuries. Things like lost hours at work, high medical bills, and more can all add up to huge financial burdens. Those burdens can be difficult to get out from under, and if the accident that led to them isn't your fault, why should you have to shoulder the strain of debt? Personal injury law helps those who need assistance and who don't deserve to suffer get the financial help they need – it gets them justice and gets their lives back on track.
Myth 2: If You Slip In A Store, You're Entitled To Compensation
It's also common to think that if you slip on a spill or have some other accident in a store or on public property that you're instantly due compensation. This isn't true, and the reality is that premises liability cases are among the most difficult to prove.
The reason is that you only have a case if the owner of the property was aware of a safety issue and chose to do nothing to correct it. Something like a spill that happened moments ago isn't enough to base a case on since they may not have known about it.
Additionally, if a reasonable person would know that a risk existed, you can't seek compensation. For example, a reasonable person would know that a rain covered sidewalk may be slippery, and as such should take precautions to be more careful. It's not always as simple as "I fell, so you owe me money", and that's why seeking professional representation is so important.
Myth 3: You Can Get A Settlement On Your Own
There's a shred of truth to this since in some cases an insurance company, property owner, or other responsible entity may actually offer you a settlement in the days following your accident. However, what you might not realize is that those early settlements amount to 'hush money'. You're probably being offered a very low amount in order to negate your ability to seek significant compensation later.
Getting help from a Florida personal injury lawyer is a much better idea for your future since they'll be able to review your case and your settlement offers to see if you're actually being offered an amount that's fair. If a settlement can't be reached, they'll go to court for you and argue for your right to get compensation. In other words, they'll make sure that you aren't taken advantage of and that you actually get the amount that you are truly owed.
These are just three of the big myths about personal injury law, but they help highlight just how complex this area of law can be, and why you need professional help when you've been injured in an accident of any kind.