Common Personal Injury Law Myths Debunked
If you were injured due to someone else's negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury claim. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who accept low settlement offers or claim denials without consulting a lawyer at all because they believe one of the many myths surrounding personal injury law. Don't just assume that speaking with a personal injury lawyer isn't going to help your situation. Instead, learn the truth behind these common myths before you assume that talking to a personal injury attorney isn't the right option for you.
You Can File a Claim Anytime
It's common for people to put off filing a personal injury claim because they believe that they'll be able to file when they have time. Unfortunately, that isn't true. Most states require personal injury claims to be filed within a specific time frame. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims varies by state, and some states have different time restrictions for specific claim types. So, if you're injured in an accident or due to someone's negligence, you need to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. This way, you'll know how much time you have to file a claim if needed.
Filing a Claim Requires You to Go to Court
Some people avoid filing a personal injury claim because they think that if they file a claim, they'll be required to go to court. However, that isn't always the case. Before a personal injury case reaches open court, your lawyer will negotiate with the lawyer representing the other involved party to see if they can reach a fair settlement. Because dragging claim negotiations out or going to court costs a lot of money, lawyers try to settle claims as quickly as possible. So, there's a good chance that your claim can be settled outside of court.
Attorneys are Too Expensive
There are a lot of personal injury attorneys that accept cases on a contingency basis. This means you don't pay for the lawyer's service unless a settlement is reached. Once a settlement is agreed on by both parties, a percentage of your settlement amount is used to pay your attorney. So, you shouldn't avoid contacting a personal injury law firm just because you don't have enough money to pay a lawyer upfront.
Discussing your situation with a personal injury attorney won't cost you any money, so you should consider making a consultation appointment to review your options. Chances are, hiring an attorney to handle your claim will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.