There are many misconceptions about personal injury cases, and some injured people think they don’t have a worthwhile injury claim. As a result, they don’t request the compensation they deserve from the person whose negligence caused them to suffer harm.
We want to help people avoid situations like this. Money isn’t everything, but obtaining compensation for your losses can help with the financial hardships you might face after getting hurt. You can reach out to an Arkansas personal injury attorney for help with your injury case, and let us answer any questions you might have about the claims process. Below, we’ll address some popular personal injury myths.
MYTH #1: A Minor Injury Is Not Worth the Time and Trouble of a Personal Injury Claim
Getting in an accident can cost you a lot more money than you expect. For example, what looks like a little dent or scratch on your bumper could cost thousands of dollars in repairs. And seemingly minor injuries can result in surprisingly high medical bills and lost wages. Healthcare is frightfully expensive.
Emergency treatment, including x-rays, MRIs or CAT scans, and laboratory tests, could cost thousands of dollars. Even if you don’t seek emergency medical care, the cost of various forms of treatment like physical therapy can add up quickly. Moreover, what seems like a minor injury could be more serious than it first seems.
You cannot assume your medical expenses will be taken care of simply because you have health insurance. In many cases, medical providers will not bill your health insurance, which means that you will likely be responsible for the bills. That’s why it’s important to retain an attorney to help with your claim, even if you think your injuries aren’t that bad.
MYTH #2: You Can Wait Until You Have Fully Recuperated to Take Legal Action
Arkansas law limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit against the party who caused your injury. In most personal injury situations, including wrongful death, you lose the right to seek compensation three years after the date of the incident. With medical malpractice, you only have two years from the date of error in most situations.
If you miss the filing deadline, you will forever be barred from taking legal action against the at-fault party. Even if you don’t want to file a lawsuit but want to settle your claim, the insurance company will probably stop negotiating with you when the filing deadline expires because they know you no longer have a viable lawsuit.
In many cases, injured people cannot wait until they are fully healed before seeking compensation. It is important to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as you can to ensure your rights are protected.
MYTH #3: A Personal Injury Case Takes Forever
The vast majority of personal injury cases do not have to go to trial because they settle out of court, often in just a matter of months. Typically, your attorney will send a demand letter to the negligent party’s insurance carrier to start the negotiation process. Negotiations can often be concluded fairly quickly, at which point you will probably have an opportunity to settle your case.
If it looks as if the case will not settle for a fair amount or the filing deadline is looming, your lawyer might file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. In fact, sometimes the insurance company won’t take the claim seriously until the lawyer files a lawsuit. In those cases, it can take longer to resolve the claim, but it is usually worth it to litigate if you can’t get a fair settlement. We could discuss dozens of additional popular personal injury myths, but the bottom line is that if you think you might have a personal injury claim, you should reach out to an Arkansas personal injury attorney for help. We can answer your questions and let you know if you might have a valid claim. We do not charge for the initial consultation, so contact our office today to book yours.
