If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Providence, you’ve probably heard all sorts of information about filing a personal injury lawsuit. Some of this information is false and misleading. Our Providence personal injury attorneys will address some of the common myths about personal injury claims below.

  1. You Have to Pay a Retainer

Most people think you have to pay Providence personal injury attorneys a retainer upfront or during the course of your lawsuit. This could explain why so many victims prefer to represent themselves in an effort to save a few dollars.

At Kevin P Landry Law Offices, our attorneys understand that not everyone is able to pay for legal services. So to ensure that they get the justice they deserve, we charge what is known as a contingency fee.

A contingency fee is basically an arrangement where we do not charge you any legal fees if we do not recover any compensation for you. If we take on your case, we are also taking a financial risk which means we believe in your case.

  1. We Can Predict How Much You’ll Receive in Compensation

We typically have an idea how much your case is worth but we can’t give you an exact number. Several factors can affect the value of your case. For instance, the amount of money you earn, the severity of your injuries, money spent on medical bills, etc. all contribute towards how much your case will be worth in the end. In addition, if your case goes to trial, there’s no way to tell how much you will be awarded in damages. Juries differ and they are very unpredictable.

  1. Your Case has to go to Trial

Only 2% of civil suits actually go to trial. Most people are generally surprised when they find out that their case might never go to trial. We usually make every effort to ensure that we settle your case as soon as possible. It typically takes a much shorter amount of time to settle outside the courtroom than to go through a trial process.

We can choose either to use a mediator or to go through negotiations with the insurance company. A mediator is typically a third party- usually a judge or a former attorney.

  1. You Need to Give the Insurance Company a Statement

This is a very sneaky tactic used by insurance companies to bully victims into settling for a lesser amount. They will tell victims that they will not settle with them unless they provide a written or recorded statement.

You are not obligated to give out recorded statements to insurance companies. Always seek legal advice before giving out recorded statements.

  1. You Can File a Lawsuit Anytime

This is partially true. You can file a lawsuit any time you wish but keep in mind that there are strict time limits on how long you have to wait to file a personal injury claim. If the time expires, the judge will throw out your case. The best time to file a lawsuit is immediately after your accident. This way, your attorney will have enough time to prepare for your case and file a lawsuit.

  1. You Can Only File One Lawsuit

You can sue more than one party in a personal injury claim. For instance, if you are suing a nursing home for abusing your loved one, you can sue the abuser as well as the homeowner for negligent hiring.

This is why we always recommend that you speak to a personal injury attorney in Providence who can be able to help you identify the right people that should be held liable.

  1. You Don’t Need an Attorney

Insurance companies always make things sound easier especially when they know they will save a lot of money. They will come to you and suggest that you settle your case without involving an attorney because it would be less complicated. We can almost guarantee that you will miss out on receiving full compensation if you choose to handle things this way.

The at-fault party may request you not to involve insurance companies or an attorney because they will pay for all damages out of their pocket. Once again, this sounds very easy and less complicated but we’ve heard so many stories from clients who’ve been duped like this. And the sad part is that they never bothered to note down the other driver’s information like license plate number or their insurance company’s details so doing a follow up becomes really hard.

  1. Insurance Companies are there to Help You in Time of Need

No, insurance companies are there to make and save money. All they care about is ensuring that they pay you as little as possible or not pay you at all. Paying you will affect their bottom line and that’s the last thing that they want. Some companies will try to bully you or trick you into signing binding agreements.

  1. The Other Driver’s Insurance Company is Obligated to Pay You

That is not true. They will only pay you is if they are ordered to do so by a court of law or if their policy guidelines specifically say they should. Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, they are still not obligated to pay you.

  1. You Can Only Be Compensated for Physical Injuries

Injuries do not need to be physical in nature. Just because people can’t see your injuries, does not mean that you should not be compensated. You can be compensated for emotional and psychological injuries.

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Legal Advice

Don’t fall into the traps of insurance companies because you believe the myths about personal injury claims. Experienced Providence personal injury attorneys can help you get a better understanding of your legal rights and options following a car accident.

Contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Kevin P Landry Law Offices in Providence for a free and comprehensive consultation by calling 401-751-0101. If you can’t come to our offices, we can always come to wherever you feel comfortable on request.