Personal injury law is surrounded by exaggerations and misinformation that often cause confusion among individuals seeking compensation. When you lack personal experience with these types of cases, filing a personal injury claim can be intimidating.
It doesn’t help that various misguided judgments about the same exist, further discouraging those who qualify for compensation from seeking it. This article debunks common misconceptions about personal injury law, helping you make informed choices whenever you find yourself in a similar situation.
1. You Can File a Claim Whenever You Want
There are time restrictions for filing a personal injury claim, and they depend on your location and injuries. Doing so after the given period disqualifies you from seeking compensation. For instance, you have up to three years to record your case in Washington, two years in California, and two years in New Jersey.
In the event that the individual injury case includes a minor, New Jersey offers two years after the kid’s eighteenth birthday celebration, while New York permits minors to document a case up to when they are 21 years of age.
The timeliness may differ for cases involving exposure to toxins, as the effects may take longer to show. You should consult a lawyer to help you understand the statute of limitations that apply to your jurisdiction to avoid missing your compensation.
2. Hiring an Attorney is Expensive and Unnecessary
When you have incurred high medical expenses following severe injury, you may consider not hiring a lawyer in a bid to cut costs. However, you don’t necessarily have to pay expensive legal fees to secure professional legal assistance. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means your lawyer will get paid when you win the case and secure compensation. You get to share the financial risk with your lawyer, which reduces your financial stress when seeking justice.
Many people avoid working with lawyers, believing they can effectively go through the legal process alone. While it is possible, you will be positioning yourself for a lengthy fight in court that might leave you with less settlement than you deserve or none at all. Alternatively, you can work with personal law experts like Sadaka Law and boost your prospects. The lawyer will build a strong case on your behalf to ensure you get maximum compensation.
3. You Don’t Need to File a Claim For Minor Injuries
No injury is so small that you cannot exercise your right to fight for compensation. Unfortunately, this misconception favors insurance companies, which see it as an opportunity to ignore or offer insufficient settlement for minor injuries.
In situations where you consider the injury minor or undeserving of a lawsuit, you should still fight for compensation because you don’t deserve to suffer because of somebody else’s negligence. Those injuries you consider minor may escalate to become life-threatening or complicated, altering the quality of your life.
Endnote
When it comes to fighting for justice and compensation, having accurate information makes all the difference. Always consult a skilled attorney before filing for claims to ensure you go about it the right way. You should also avoid mistakes that may ruin your chances of getting the best possible outcome.
