Most people are not familiar with personal injury claims because, thankfully, they haven’t endured a serious accident caused by the negligence or malicious intent of another. Others have been in an accident and try to work with the at-fault insurance adjuster to settle their injury claim themselves. In some cases, injured people avoid contacting a personal injury attorney for help with their personal injury claim because of common myths and misunderstandings.
If you were injured in a serious accident, we want to reassure you that the best way to get a fair settlement is with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Top 5 myths about personal injury claims
These myths sometimes stop people from getting the help they need:
- I can’t afford a personal injury lawyer. There are no upfront costs or fees paid by injury clients to pursue an injury claim; firms like ours provide representation on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, which means we don’t get paid unless you receive monetary compensation. Our fees are a percentage of what we get for you on personal injury cases and you will not incur any attorney fees if we are unable to win your case and recover money for you. When cases are concluded with a monetary recovery, our firm is repaid for the out-of-pocket costs we have advanced from the settlement monies received.
- You can easily negotiate a fair settlement on your own. In most cases, hiring an injury attorney will yield much better results than you would ever be able to achieve on your own. An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, not you, and they are in business to make money. This means they will almost always make you an offer lower than you deserve and will play hardball if you try to negotiate. A personal injury lawyer knows how to fight back against their tactics.
- Personal injury lawsuits take years. Some people avoid hiring a personal injury lawyer because they have been told they will have to wait years to get a settlement. While patience is often required to get a full and fair settlement, it’s impossible to predict how long your personal injury lawsuit will take because each one is unique. When interviewing attorneys, they should be able to give you a rough estimate of the timeframe based on the complexities associated with your case.
- It isn’t worth hiring a lawyer for a “minor” injury. Even people who suffer relatively minor injuries are entitled to an injury settlement to cover their damages and an attorney can help make sure you receive a fair settlement when an insurance adjuster refuses to cooperate. If you were in what you considered to be a minor accident, it’s still important to seek a medical exam to determine the extent of any injuries. It’s also important to understand that sometimes people feel okay right after an accident but pain from whiplash can show up later. In Washington State, injured adults generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim, partly for this reason.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
