A car accident can upend life as you know it. While that’s certainly stressful to think about, you might be able to mitigate the damage and set a course for successful recovery by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
If you win your car accident claim, then you may be awarded compensation to cover your lost wages, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and lost enjoyment of life. Yet, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about the personal injury lawsuit process.
Before filing your claim, you need a firm understanding of what the process entails and what it can and can’t do for you. That way, you’ll be better positioned to make informed decisions that are in your best interests while knowing what to expect from the legal process. That said, let’s look at some of the most common misconceptions about personal injury lawsuits.
Top misconceptions about personal injury claims
Television, movies, and books have created a lot of misunderstanding about what the personal injury lawsuit process looks like. Here are some of the top misconceptions that we want to dispel:
- You have to go to trial to win your case: Although your personal injury case may wind up being argued in front of a jury, it’s much more likely that your case will settle outside of court. You just have to enter the negotiation process armed with strong arguments so that you can convince the other side to settle at a number with which you’re comfortable.
- You can’t win your case if you contributed to the accident: While being partially to blame for your wreck can impact the amount of compensation that you walk away with, it won’t completely bar your personal injury claim. So, before writing off your ability to take legal action, make sure you discuss the circumstances of your accident with your attorney.
- There’s no point in filing a lawsuit if you don’t have serious physical injuries: Sure, the extent of your injuries will play a role in the amount of compensation you ultimately recover, but many serious physical injuries don’t present themselves until much later. And don’t minimize the psychological harm caused to you by your wreck. These damages are compensable, too. As you’re assessing your damages, then, make sure you’re conducting a holistic analysis.
- You can’t afford an attorney: A lot of car accident victims make the mistake of thinking that they can’t afford a personal injury attorney. But most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they won’t get paid unless you do. This means you won’t have to pay anything upfront to secure their representation.
- The insurance company will treat you fairly: The insurance companies involved in your case want to get out of the matter paying as little as possible. Therefore, they have their own interests at heart as they navigate the process rather than yours. So, don’t buy into everything they tell you.
Pursue your personal injury case with confidence
We know that you’re dealing with a lot right now. And thinking about the legal process might amplify your stress and sense of uncertainty. But you don’t have to carry the burden by yourself.
You can seek out any assistance you may need along the way so that you’re confident that you’re doing everything you can to position yourself for success.
If you have any lingering questions about the process, then we encourage you to continue to read our blog.