Five Common Misconceptions About Personal Injury Lawsuits
The Truth About Personal Injury Lawsuits
When you’re involved in an accident, there is a lot to wrap your mind around. Are you injured? Were you at fault? What will insurance cover? And more. Additionally, there are a lot of myths surrounding personal injury lawsuits, and you may not be able to navigate the waters alone. Here is what you should know regarding the common misconceptions about personal injury lawsuits.
Myth 1: The cases always take years to settle.
When you are the victim of a personal injury lawsuit, you must file your claim within your state’s statute of limitations. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you have two (2) years from the day the accident happened to file a civil case.
However, many cases never even make it to court and can be settled within months or a year of the accident. It depends on how the accident happened, the available insurance coverage of the person who caused the action, whether you have full or limited tort coverage on your own auto insurance policy and other related factors.
Myth 2: “Minor” injuries don’t warrant a lawsuit.
Your injuries may seem like they aren’t that bad or you think they will improve on their own after an accident. However, many times your injuries can deteriorate if you don’t get the proper treatment. Don’t downplay your pain – get the treatment you need. Additionally, medical bills can add quickly—from doctor visits to follow up appointments and physical therapy. If you were not at fault in the accident, then you should be compensated for your out of pocket medical bills along with pain & suffering.
Myth 3: The other person will have to pay out of pocket.
If the other person involved in your accident is insured, it’s unlikely they’ll have to pay out of pocket. You may feel guilty about filing a lawsuit against someone but you shouldn’t let this deter you. Insurance companies handle the claims on behalf of the at-fault driver and ultimately are the ones writing the settlement checks.
Myth 4: All personal injury cases go to court.
Most personal injury lawsuits settle before ever making their way near a court. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows when to advise a client to accept a settlement and when to file a lawsuit and go to court. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer will position yourself to get the best result under the circumstances, given your injuries and treatment.
Myth 5: You don’t have to hire a lawyer.
Hiring a lawyer for your personal injury lawsuit is the best thing you can do for your case. You shouldn’t try to handle the situation yourself, as personal injury attorneys have more experience handling personal injury claims, litigating, negotiating and dealing with insurance companies. If you choose not to hire a lawyer, you could be jeopardizing your rights and severely limiting your compensation. We know because we have seen it too often and have seen insurance companies take advantage of unsuspecting victims.
