Several individuals will decide not to file a personal injury claim because of the different myths surrounding them. Read on and reach out to our skilled St. Petersburg, Florida personal injury attorneys today to learn more about the reality of filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida.
What are the most common personal injury claim myths?
Myth 1: Personal injury lawsuits take a long time
Many people are under the impression that a personal injury lawsuit takes years to resolve. While it may feel like it takes this long because of all the paperwork and waiting to hear about the final results of your claim, if everything goes smoothly with each party involved, then it can be settled in just a few months. In some cases, however, claims can take a long time to resolve, even though it’s your attorney’s job to gather the important facts of the case and get it put through the court as soon as you are able so that you can acquire a settlement.
Myth 2: Insurance won’t pay
If you were hurt in an accident, it is likely that you will consult with your insurance company to go over the facts of what happened. You can also speak with your attorney to find out whether or not you should speak to the other party’s insurance company. Most of the time, one insurance company will cover the costs of filing the claim or will pay for the remaining amount after you pay the deductible associated with your policy.
Myth 3: The responsible party will pay for everything
In some cases, a person responsible for your injuries will pay for all of the costs related to your claim. However, this is only somewhat accurate. This is why some people may be apprehensive regarding filing in general, as they don’t think that they will get money from a settlement because of the person not having the money to disburse. More often than not, the person’s insurance company will pay the settlement amount. The person responsible will then have to pay higher monthly payments or premiums in order to make up for the insurance company paying the settlement amount. They also will typically have to pay the deductible before the insurance company will pay anything.
Myth 4: Minor injuries aren’t worth filing a claim over
It is important to recognize that even if you just have a few scrapes and bruises, you should still file a claim to obtain compensation for your medical bills. Your attorney can review the facts of the accident to decide if you have a case and if it would be worth your time to file a claim, depending on the severity of your injuries. If you didn’t go to the hospital or visit your doctor, then you might not need to file a claim, however, you should still reach out to an attorney to be certain.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the above-mentioned myths, do not hesitate to reach out to our firm today.
