Top 3 myths of a personal injury claim

Updated on October 1, 2020

Slips, falls, car, and worksite accidents, all take a toll on someone physically, mentally, and financially. The situation is made worse when the injury is due to someone else’s negligence.

Understanding personal injury law is not always cut and dry, and myths exist that often confuse people. It is best to have an experienced attorney at your side. For example, the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant knows how to best approach a personal injury case for a positive outcome.

Top 3 Myths of a Personal Injury Claim

As with most things, myths and misconceptions happen with comes to personal injury civil cases. Often, it stops deserving people from ever even pursuing what is rightly theirs – compensation.

Person Injury Cases Are Easy Money – False

Compensation in a personal injury case includes medical costs, loss of wages, physical and mental pain, and suffering, and loss in quality of life. It is not easy money. Many of these costs are already paid by a person suffering from a personal injury and considered reimbursement.

Every personal injury settlement is unique to the person filing the claim. However, what they have in common is that you will not get a paycheck or paid contemporaneously because of your injury. The compensation amount can be lower, more, or equal to the amount sought.

Nothing is easy about a personal injury court case. It is rarely simply open and shut. An experienced attorney still must overcome the burden of proof in any case, and they will take on a case that they feel they cannot win.

A Personal Injury Case Can Be Filed at Any Time – False

Every state has a different statute of limitations when it comes to filing a personal injury claim. You do not want to wait when making that decision because time will run out. If you do, the case is likely lost forever. 

In extreme personal injury cases, some victims are told not to file a claim or even bullied to stall the progress.

Your professional attorney knows about federal, state, and local laws. It is yet another reason why hiring someone to advocate for you is one of the most important decisions you will make. 

Personal Injury Cases Wrap Up Quickly (or Take Forever) – False

Personal injury cases have no timeframe, that is a guarantee. The time varies vastly when it comes to the resolution to a court case.

Cases can resolve quickly if either or both parties wish to come to an agreement on compensation. But, you do not want to come to that decision without an attorney at your side.

A personal injury case can last for months, too. It depends on the length of treatment, negotiations, the discovery process, court scheduling, and the length of the trial. The factors vary state to state, and you need an advocate to help you navigate the process.

Other Myths and Misconceptions

Myths and misconceptions cloud almost anything, including personal injury lawsuits. It is the best policy to research your rights and contact a lawyer. Consultations are generally free, and there are no negative consequences to ensuring that you are taking the right steps.

Another common myth is that the at-fault driver in a car accident will pay medical bills as they are incurred. It is entirely untrue. You will pay those expenses out of pocket or through your healthcare insurance provider. In some cases, your personal vehicle insurance will cover those costs until a settlement or judgment happens. It is why keeping all of your paperwork becomes vital to a case.

Finally, a plaintiff in a personal injury case is not guaranteed compensation. A favorable result is not a promise even when you know you are injured. The sole reason for this is because every jury for every case is entirely unique to that case, and every case has its own unique traits and circumstances.

In every case of misinformation, a professional lawyer can provide the right information, whether you decide to pursue a personal injury claim or not.

Wrap Up – Your Rights

Compensation is never a guarantee when pursuing a personal injury case. However, you do have the right to seek compensation. You will need to know how your insurance provider works when it comes to personal injury and various state-specific laws and mandates.

However, research goes a long way. What assists most in these cases are experienced attorneys that will give you the right advice and guide you through the process. 

Do you not believe advice from family and friends without verifying everything with a lawyer. You do not want to wait too long to file a personal injury claim, nor do you want to avoid the process altogether because it feels too hard. 

You have rights, and part of that is seeking compensation when you suffer an injury because of another’s negligence. Ask your attorney questions, because there is no such thing as a bad question when it comes to your rights.

You deserve your day in court without misconceptions holding you back finding representation or seeking a settlement to cover your medical costs, pain and suffering, and in some cases, even loss of wages.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.