Injuries happen, and they can be a lot of work to deal with. It can be difficult for those who have never been injured before to know what to expect from the personal injury claims process. Every personal injury claim is different and requires a unique approach.
But for those who are unfamiliar with personal injury law, settling their case might seem like an impossible task. For this reason, you can consider hiring a legal expert, like the Lamber Goodnow Injury Lawyers.
Here are seven myths about personal injury claims that you need to be aware of to make sure you are being compensated for your injuries properly.
1. You will get a large amount of compensation
Many people believe that they will receive a large sum of money following an injury. But this is not the case. You will only be compensated for the actual injury or injuries you sustained.
In addition, you will not be compensated for any pain and suffering that came as a result of your injury unless there was physical scarring or disfigurement. This is something that most personal injury victims don’t know about when they first step into a lawyer’s office.
2. It takes a long time to get compensation
Many people think that personal injury claims take a long time to be processed. Yet, the average time to process a personal injury claim is only 6-8 months. When you are injured in an accident, it’s important to get the help of an experienced professional as soon as possible so that they can start working on your case immediately.
Once your attorney starts handling your case, they will be aware of any deadlines for filing for compensation and will make sure to file all the paperwork on time. That way, you don’t have to worry about missing out on any deadlines and your injury claim will be finalized much more quickly.
3. Your claim will be denied
If you have been injured and your claim is denied, it might seem like the insurance company is out to get you. But if you’ve ever been involved in a car accident and received a call from your insurance agent, you know that this is not always the case.
Your insurer will only deny your claim if they feel it isn’t covered under their policy. If there’s any question about what is or isn’t covered, ask for clarification before moving on to another company.
Some policies have exclusions for injuries that are sustained in a motor vehicle accident, but not all do. It’s important to know what types of coverage you’re entitled to so you can make sure your claim is handled correctly.
4. It doesn’t matter how serious the injury is, as long as it’s not life-threatening
Most states have a law in place that makes it so that the severity of your injury doesn’t matter when determining how much compensation you will get. What matters is the type of injury and your medical expenses.
For instance, if someone broke their arm, but their medical expenses were only $500, they might be compensated for $500–not $50,000+. This is because the severity of the injury doesn’t always determine how much is awarded.
Some injuries are costlier than others to treat. For example, if someone has a broken leg and needs surgery, they might need $10,000 worth of treatment. If they had a concussion and needed therapy sessions instead of surgery, they may only need $5,000 worth of treatment.
In cases like these, where there could be a lot more costs involved in treating an injury depending on the type of injury sustained, the judge or jury will typically look at what type of treatment was necessary before awarding any amount for that particular case.
5. You can’t win your case if you have insurance
This is a common misconception. The fact is that people with insurance can still have their case dismissed and receive nothing if it’s found out the insurance company was not involved in the injury.
For instance, your spouse might be injured at work. Your spouse has health insurance but doesn’t tell his employer about his injury because he knows he’ll lose his job – and therefore, his health insurance coverage as well. If it’s found out that your spouse purposely did not disclose this information, then it can result in the dismissal of your case.
The best way to protect yourself against this happening is by discussing your injury with your employer and giving them all the information they need to solve the problem without having any legal liability for an accident on the job site. By following these tips, you are less likely to have your claim dismissed due to a lack of knowledge or disclosure of details about who was at fault for your injury.
6. Insurance won’t pay for my injury
Experts argue that Insurance companies are in business to make money and want to pay as little as they can while still complying with the law. While that might seem unfair, it is their job to fight for your compensation. Ensure you know what you are entitled to and don’t settle for less than what you are owed.
7. It’s not worth it to hire a personal injury lawyer
It’s not always worth it to hire a personal injury lawyer. Some people think they can handle their settlement independently and try to go without a lawyer. However, that’s not the case.
In most cases, hiring a personal injury lawyer will make sure you are fully compensated for your injuries. For example, if you were in an accident and someone else was at fault, your injury lawyer would help you file the claim and get compensation for your medical expenses and any other damages related to the accident.
If you want to know whether you need to hire a personal injury lawyer for your case, contact us for a free consultation today. We’ll let you know what your next steps should be.
Conclusion
Personal injury law is as complex as it is important. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you decide to pursue a lawsuit.
The myths about personal injury law can be just as damaging as those about personal injury itself. For example, if you’ve been injured in an accident, you may have heard of the “48-Hour Rule.” This rule states that if you don’t seek medical attention within 48 hours of the accident, you will not recover damages for any injuries.
The 48-Hour Rule is a myth that can cost you your case. So, make sure to contact a personal injury lawyer with experience in your particular type of case and to get the facts, not myths. While it is important to know about personal injury myths, it is also important to be careful while driving. This is why you need to know a few things about reckless driving. Â