Personal Injury Myths | Different Personal Injury Cases
July 11, 2018 | Personal Injury
When people talk about personal injury cases, a lot of myths are thrown around, such as they’re going to cost money to simply talk with a personal injury lawyer or this type of case is going to be drawn out.
In this blog, we are setting out to bust some common myths about personal injury cases. Read on!
PERSONAL INJURY CASES
Personal injury is defined as an injury to the body, emotional state or mind. Personal injury refers to the plaintiff, the person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
There are many types of personal injury cases.
The most common types of personal injury cases include medical malpractice, car accident cases and nursing home abuse:
- Medical malpractice: This occurs when a healthcare professional fails to take the appropriate action for a patient’s care or gives treatment that deviates from the accepted standards of care. This negligence can be a result of errors in treatment, diagnosis, aftercare or health management.
- Car accident cases: Serious car accidents can result in emotional distress, substantial pain, medical expenses, lost wages and property damage.
- Nursing home abuse: Nursing home abuse includes physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation and neglect. Abuse is an intentional infliction, intimidation, confinement, care of service deprivation or punishment that results in physical harm, pain or mental instability.
To learn more about these types of personal injury cases, read our in-depth blog or download our in-depth guidebook.
PERSONAL INJURY MYTHS
There are myths and misconceptions about personal injury law, and we hope to clear these up.
MYTH ONE
It is going to cost me a lot of money to talk to a personal injury lawyer and even more to hire one.
At Stealey Law & Mediation, clients will get a free consultation. It will not cost anything to talk to a personal injury lawyer here. Don’t let the myth of a consultation cost hold you back from speaking with a lawyer. You should hire a personal injury lawyer if you have suffered severe injuries, experienced a loss of wages due to injuries or are faced with expensive medical bills.
MYTH TWO
My insurance will cover all of my costs if I am injured.
This is false because if it isn’t your fault, the defendant’s insurance should cover your costs, not yours. Your lawyer will find the best options available for you to assure that you get the proper medical care without causing a financial disaster.
MYTH THREE
The person responsible for my injuries will have to pay out of pocket.
In many personal injury cases, it is the insurance companies that pay for the claim and not the individual. The defendant often times has difficulty paying for lost wages, medical damages and property damage. Instead, the defendant’s insurance will cover the settlement.
MYTH FOUR
I only have minor injuries; it isn’t worth talking to a lawyer.
Medical bills add up very fast, even for minor injuries. If someone else caused your injury, you should talk to a lawyer.
You should never worry about talking to your personal injury lawyer because at Stealey Law & Mediation, we offer free consultations so that you can talk to an experienced professional right away without worrying if it’s worth talking to one.
MYTH FIVE
Personal injury cases are long and drawn out.
Many people are under the impression that personal injury cases are long and drawn out; however, this is not true. Many personal injury cases never make it to court. Instead, they reach settlements out of court through negotiations.
Although this is true in some cases, it usually only takes weeks or months to settle your case. If you are worried about the length of time your case will take, ask your lawyer. He or she will be able to give you an estimated timeframe on how long your case will take.
MYTH SIX
I am guaranteed compensation to cover my losses.
Although personal injury cases may result in some type of settlement, plaintiffs (party that initiates a lawsuit before court) aren’t guaranteed compensation. There is no guarantee that just because you filed a personal injury case you will receive compensation. The plaintiff must prove that a legal reason exists to receive compensation.
MYTH SEVEN
The police will determine who is at fault.
Yes, the police officer is in charge of gathering the details about the accident. He or she may determine who is at fault, but that doesn’t mean it is final. Determining liability is up to the judge overseeing the case. An investigation will take place, and all evidence will be presented to determine who is at fault.
STEALEY LAW & MEDIATION | PERSONAL INJURY MYTHS
We understand that personal injury cases can be complicated and overwhelming, but now that these myths about personal injury cases are cleared up, we hope that there is less confusion. At Stealey Law & Mediation, you will meet Jim Stealey to discuss your case so you will feel more relaxed.
Stealey Law & Mediation will guide you every step of the way, making sure to answer all of your questions so that there is no confusion about these personal injury myths.
Have questions about these myths? Call us today at: 304-485-3127
