Hopefully, you’ll never need a personal injury lawyer. However, if you do, don’t hesitate to get one based on the many misconceptions that surround these legal professionals. Without proper legal assistance, you might take unnecessarily low settlement offers that don’t cover all your medical bills, pain, and suffering.
1. Myth: Personal Injury Lawyers Cost a Lot
The Facts: In most cases, personal injury attorneys do their work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis. That means they only get paid when they win your case; they get nothing if they lose. You don’t have to worry about steep retainers or hourly fees; they get a percentage of your verdict or settlement amount when awarded. This setup lets anyone of all income levels have access to legal counsel.
2. Myth: Personal Injury Cases Always Involve a Trial
The Facts: Between 4-5% of personal injury cases go to court. Most are settled out of court, but you need a personal injury lawyer to ensure your deal is good.
3. Myth: Personal Injury Lawyers Chase Ambulances
The Facts: Attorneys looking for victims to get business from are conducting themselves unethically, which is illegal in most jurisdictions. Genuine personal injury lawyers would risk fines, suspension, and even jail time for doing this. In some cases, severe ethical violations could lead to incarceration in facilities like Riverside County jails. What you see in popular media isn’t accurate in this regard.
4. Myth: My Injuries Aren’t Serious Enough To Matter
The Facts: Injuries that seem minor initially can become something major later. A personal injury lawyer can help you document the full extent of your injuries for appropriate compensation.
5. Myth: Claims Can Be Filed Any Time
The Facts: The clock for filing a personal injury claim starts at the moment of the accident, and you only have a little while to assemble a claim. Filing deadlines exist in most states, and any delays help the insurance company bury evidence or turn potential witnesses in their favor. A personal injury lawyer knows how to work quickly while the situation is fresh.
6. Myth: My Insurance Means I Don’t Need a Personal Injury Lawyer
The Facts: Insurance companies care about profits more than anything else, and your coverage might deny claims. Even if personal insurance pays out, you might need more than you get offered. It would help if you had a personal injury lawyer with experience negotiating with insurance carriers and handling their tactics.
7. Myth: Personal Injury Cases Take Years
The Facts: Some cases take years to resolve, but many get settled in months or weeks. Many victims of personal injuries accept insurance settlement offers quickly to avoid a long and drawn-out process or to get money fast. However, a personal injury lawyer knows insurance company tactics and won’t let them drag their feet.
8. Myth: I Don’t Need One
The Facts: Serious accidents often involve severe injuries and extensive property damage. Complicated cases need an educated professional who knows all the legal details. Filing your claim yourself risks getting the whole thing tossed out on technicalities or missing deadlines you don’t even know exist.
Find Out for Yourself
You deserve compensation if you get injured and suspect or know someone else’s carelessness or negligence caused or contributed to the situation. You may need it to handle recovery costs or replace lost income. Find out for yourself how misconceptions about personal injury lawyers aren’t true by scheduling a free consultation with a few, and find the legal professional who can make sure you get every dollar you deserve.
