The personal injury law industry is a complex and fiercely competitive one, with many people wrongly assuming certain myths about the profession. Personal injury law is not just about pursuing compensation for injured parties; it is also about ensuring that their quality of life is maintained and enhanced as much as possible throughout recovery and beyond.
Although the best personal injury attorney does enable victims to receive financial compensation for physical injuries, it also serves a vital function in protecting those who have been injured from losing out on work and income. Here are seven of the most common myths about personal injury law.
Myth 1: All personal injury lawyers do the same thing
People often assume that all personal injury attorneys practice the same way and therefore do the same job. In reality, however, each law firm has its own unique structure and different processes, which means that, although most firms offer similar services, the ways in which they approach a client’s particular issues will differ significantly.
For example, some law firms place emphasis on developing personal relationships with clients. In contrast, others prefer to focus on efficiency and achieving the best possible results for their clients as quickly as possible. For this reason, looking for a firm that best matches your needs and preferences is important.
Myth 2: Every case ends with a settlement
Settlement negotiations are a common part of many personal injury cases but they are only sometimes successful. Some cases are so complex or contentious that a settlement cannot be reached no matter how high the parties are prepared to go. The litigation process must continue in these cases until the courts eventually resolve it.
Myth 3: A personal injury lawsuit needs to be filed right away
Some people mistakenly believe that a personal injury lawsuit should be filed as soon as an injury occurs because the evidence is often lost quickly in such cases. However, this is generally not true since many issues can be dealt with later in the process without affecting the case’s outcome. In fact, it is often better to wait until you have had the opportunity to fully recover from your injuries before filing a lawsuit so that you have more to go on during negotiations and can determine exactly how much your damages are worth.
Myth 4: Personal injury lawsuits are difficult to win
Many people feel that filing a personal injury lawsuit is difficult and will be rejected by a judge, if it is filed at all. This is not necessarily the case, as most personal injury lawsuits end up being decided in favor of the plaintiff. Ultimately, it depends on the facts of your case and how strong your legal arguments are.
Myth 5: Personal Injury Attorneys only handle catastrophic injuries
Although the majority of personal injury lawsuits involve very serious injuries and losses, it is not necessary to have sustained an “extreme” injury in order to file a lawsuit. In fact, it is possible to file a personal injury lawsuit for even minor injuries such as whiplash or scrapes and bruises.
Myth 6: You need a personal injury lawyer to handle a personal injury claim
In some situations, you can pursue a personal injury claim on your own without the assistance of an attorney. However, this is only sometimes possible as you may need more knowledge and experience to prepare your case properly and present it to the judge. Additionally, a personal injury attorney can save you money in the long run due to their experience and expertise in dealing with these types of claims.
Myth 7: You can sue for damages even if you caused your own injury
The idea behind tort law is that if someone is at fault for causing an accident that results in someone being injured, that person should pay for any damages that result either directly or indirectly from the accident. However, it is not possible to sue for damages if you were responsible for your own injuries or if you injured someone else while defending yourself against an attack from another person.
For example, suppose you are able to stop an attack from another person with a gun but end up accidentally shooting yourself in the process. In that case, you will not be able to file suit against the person who attacked you because you were not the victim of the attack in the first place. However, suppose you are the victim of a crime and are able to defend yourself from the attacker successfully. In that case, you can recover damages from the attacker for any injuries sustained during the attack.
Conclusion
Personal injury law is very complicated and can be challenging to understand for many people. These myths can make it even more difficult for people to decide whether or not to hire a personal injury attorney to help them with their claims. Fortunately, the information in this article should clear up some of these common misconceptions about personal injury law.