The myths and misconceptions around personal injuries have held back so many qualifying accident victims who felt they didn’t deserve compensation. Most of these common myths and misconceptions circulate in social media and gatherings, where expert guidance is usually lacking.
Believing the misconceptions around personal injury claims over facts can lead to lasting harm to victims who continue to pay high medical bills for their own recovery. Below, we’ll debunk the four most common personal injury myths so you can distinguish myths from facts when next making a decision.
Myth #1: Minor Injuries Aren’t Worth a Personal Injury Claim or Lawyer
You don’t have to suffer catastrophic injuries to want to be fairly compensated. Even smaller injuries that look to have no significant health impact at first can turn out to be more serious and permanent than you think. Many accident injuries appear soft and less serious, but worsen with time, which means they equally deserve serious attention and fair compensation.
Regardless of how minor your injuries seem, you should always seek a thorough medical evaluation before deciding whether to pursue compensation. Also, talk to a personal injury lawyer to learn about your rights and options.
Myth #2: It’s Selfish to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
People who haven’t been the victims of an accident or property damage easily spread this line of thought, making so many deserving people shy from filing their claims. However, if you’ve been a victim of someone else’s malicious intent or negligence, it’s not selfish or greedy to want your medical expenses or repair costs compensated.
Covering property damage costs and accumulating medical bills on your own can leave a serious dent in your finances while impacting your ability to work. It’s only fair that you file a lawsuit against those who have caused harm to hold them responsible for their actions. Before filing a lawsuit, consult with your lawyer to ensure a positive outcome.
Myth #3: Personal Injury Lawsuits Will Take Forever
While it’s true that some personal injury lawsuits, especially those taken up by a lawyer, take a long time, not all lawsuits are the same. Some claims might still take a shorter time than normal cases, especially in cases where emergency medical attention is needed.
You shouldn’t give up pursuing your rightful claim in exchange for a lowball payment that the insurance may offer to woo you for a quick settlement. Since most injury lawsuit cases aren’t sent to trial, and compensation is made through negotiations, you may end up with a quicker lawsuit and expedited compensation.
Myth #4: You Can File a Claim Anytime You Wish
Some personal injury victims have believed in the past that they could file claims anytime they were free to do so, especially after their injuries had healed. However, every state has a specific window of time known as a statute of limitations, within which accident victims can file their claims. Waiting until you’re healed can be too late, and winning your case after such a long time might also be difficult.
Whether it’s you or your loved one in need of fair, expedited personal injury compensation, it’s important to know what to expect before pursuing compensation. By distinguishing facts from myths, you’re steps ahead in your pursuit of fair compensation.
