If you’re lucky, you may be able to go through your entire life without ever getting injured from another party’s negligence. However, even though most of us operate based on this best-case scenario, it doesn’t always apply. People are negligent. People get hurt due to this negligence. It happens every day. And if you are injured in a car accident, slip-and-fall, or other type of personal injury accident, chances are that unless you work in insurance or personal injury law, you may not have a clear picture of what could happen. This article breaks down some common misconceptions regarding personal injury law and what happens if you decide to file a personal injury case.
Personal Injury Claim Myths To Know
- The insurance company’s initial offer is their final offer. It is not uncommon for insurance adjusters (who, remember, work for the insurance company and their bottom line!) to tell accident victims that what they’re offering is the highest and best settlement you’re going to get. However, the first offer is normally the lowest amount that the adjuster thinks you’ll accept, and will make you believe that it’s the best you’re going to get in order to quickly close the claim.
- The insurance company is automatically fair to you. Insurance adjusters are trained to establish a rapport with the people who faithfully pay their premiums on time, but their job is to secure the insurance company’s bottom line. They may tell you things like “we accept responsibility” or “we believe you” in order to prevent you from taking steps that could potentially result in a higher settlement. At the end of the day, the insurance company is still a profit-driven business that will always pay out the lowest sum they can get away with, even if you may be entitled to more.
- Minor injuries are not worth talking to an injury lawyer about. You don’t necessarily have to sustain catastrophic injuries to seek fair compensation. Moreover, what you may think is a “minor injury” may end up causing lifelong repercussions, i.e how whiplash can result in chronic headaches and neck pain. Always immediately seek medical care after an accident and consult with an experienced personal injury attorney about your options.
- The at-fault party always pays out of pocket. If you are injured as a passenger and the driver is at-fault, you may assume that filing a lawsuit will force the at-fault party to pay out of pocket. However, most of the time, it is the at-fault party’s insurer who will handle the settlement.
- Using a lawyer will make the claim drag on. When a lawyer helps you handle a personal injury claim, it will take longer than the lowball payment offered by the insurance company, but if it’s the right lawyer who handles things effectively, you may end up getting significantly more compensation along a reasonable timeline.
Contact Us Today
Understanding why it’s best to consult with a personal injury lawyer rather than trust your insurance company can save you a lot of heartache and money down the line. Call Asnis Srebnick & Kaufman to learn more today.
