Each day, hundreds of people suffer injures caused by car accidents, medical malpractice, slips and falls among others.
If you suffered injuries caused by someone else’s reckless behavior, you are entitled to compensation. However, there are certain myths surrounding compensation and the claims process. We have highlighted some of them below.
A Personal Injury Claim is Easy Money and Will Make You Rich
This myth stems from the fact that television ads show personal injury lawyers who have won thousands of dollars in personal injury lawsuits for their plaintiffs. The truth is most cases do not settle for more than $20, 000.
Furthermore, just because a case settled for a large amount, doesn’t mean that the plaintiff is now rich. Compensation is usually awarded based on a number of factors such as rehabilitation and medical costs among other long term needs.
For instance, you might be awarded a settlement of $2 million but your medical and rehabilitation costs amount to $700, 000 and your long term needs amount to another $700, 000. Remember you also need to pay lawyer fees. So you see, the amount that remains won’t really make you rich.
You are Guaranteed Compensation
There is no guarantee that you will win your personal injury case or get compensated just because you were injured because of someone else’s negligence. Every injury case is different and unique factors determine if you will be compensated.
Courts Have too Many Personal Injury Lawsuits to Handle
This is actually not true. Research shows that personal injury lawsuits have been on the decline since 1999. In fact, as of 2008, they had reduced by 25%.
You Can File a Personal Injury Claim Anytime
This is actually not true because you have a limited time to file a claim. There is a statute of limitations that you must adhere to. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island the Statute of Limitations is 3 years. This means you have three years starting from the day you sustain your injury in which to file your lawsuit.
Your Injury Claim Will be Resolved Quickly
The amount of time it takes to settle a personal injury case depends on a lot of factors. The first factor is you have to reach Maximum Medical Improvement. This means that your doctor needs to monitor and assess your injuries to determine whether you are at MMI. The amount of time it will take for you to reach MMI will depend on the severity of your injuries. Other factors that could increase the time it takes to resolve your case include:
- Length of your treatment
- Willingness of the negligent party to take part in negotiations
- Willingness of negligent party to settle the case outside of court
- The discovery process
What is Maximum Medical Improvement?
It’s Rare to Win a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
If you have a solid case then the odds of winning a medical malpractice lawsuit significantly increase. Each case is unique and hiring a medical malpractice lawyer can help your case.
A Personal Injury Means You Have a Personal Injury Case
The basis of most personal injury cases is negligence. If you were negligent then chances are you will end up paying the injured party for the injuries you caused them. If you are having trouble establishing negligence in your case, it’s best that you hire a personal injury lawyer who will help with your case.
You Will be Medical Bills Will be Paid as You Incur Them
This is entirely untrue because the defendant’s insurer is not obligated to pay you anything if your case hasn’t been resolved. You will have to pay for your medical bills either from your own pocket, your health insurer or if it applies; your auto insurer. The good news is that you will be compensated this money once you reach a settlement.
Contact a Providence Car Accident Attorney Today
You should always consider hiring a personal injury lawyer if you have been involved in a serious car accident. Our attorneys at Kevin P Landry Law Offices will work closely with you and advice you of your legal rights. We have more than 20 years of combined experience and therefore have probably handled cases similar to yours. To schedule a free consultation at our Providence location, contact us at 401-751-0101 today.
