3 Personal Injury Lawsuit Myths Debunked
Although people love to say "accidents happen," the fact of the matter is that some incidents can and should be avoided. If you are injured because someone else made a bad decision or didn't do their job, you might be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit to help you to recover from the physical and financial damages. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information out there regarding personal injury cases. Here are three personal injury lawsuit myths and the truth behind them, so that you can make the best decision.
1: "Don't worry, you have plenty of time to file."
If you are involved in a serious accident, the last thing that you might feel like doing is contacting a lawyer. Friends and family might encourage you to wait until you recover, because most people figure that they have plenty of time to handle legal matters. Unfortunately, waiting too long to talk with an attorney about filing a personal injury lawsuit can cost you your case.
As time passes, facts are forgotten, evidence is lost, and perpetrators change their stories. Because cases become harder to prove, most states have strict rules regarding the amount of time that someone can wait before they file a personal injury lawsuit. These timelines are referred to as "statute of limitations," and they range from about one to six years, depending on where you live.
For example, if you live in Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you wait longer than that, you wouldn't be eligible to file suit. To avoid destroying your case before you even file, don't put off talking with an attorney. A personal injury lawyer can advise you regarding the laws in your state, so that you take the right steps at the correct times.
2: "You can handle it on your own."
Because most people like to feel independent, they decide to take on the rigors of post-accident paperwork, insurance communication, and missed income on their own. Instead of resting and focusing on their recovery, many accident victims spend their days dealing with interrogative insurance representatives and lawyers for the other party. What most people don't realize, however, is that taking matters into your own hands isn't always the best idea.
After you have endured a traumatic event, you might not be in the best mental state to answer difficult questions regarding the day of the accident. You might unintentionally admit fault on a recorded phone call, or lead people to believe that you are in better shape than you really are. In addition to potentially implicating yourself in your own case, worrying about other things when you should be resting can make your recovery take longer than it needs to.
The great news is that you don't have to handle the stress of accident recovery on your own. A personal injury lawyer can step in, take your phone calls, handle paperwork, explain your rights, and tell you what you should expect. Having someone on your side can make even difficult recoveries a lot easier.
3: "You can't afford an attorney."
After missing work for a few weeks and dealing with expensive medical bills, you might look at your budget and figure that there is no way on earth that you can afford a legal representative. However, the great thing about personal injury lawyers is that they usually work on a contingency basis, meaning you don't pay them a dime unless they win your case.
When lawyers work on contingency, they work for free until you have reached a settlement, and then you pay them using that money. Contingency fees are usually calculated as a percentage, which varies depending on the state where you live. On average, most fees range between 33-40%.
This means that if you are involved in an accident and you are awarded a $20,000 settlement, you would probably pay your lawyer between $6,600- $8,000 for his services. Although this might sound like a lot of money, when you consider that you would be left with between $12,000 and $13,400 after your legal fees have been paid, you can see how much attorneys can help.
Understanding the facts regarding personal injury law might help you to make the best decision, so that you can start the healing process. Contact a professional, such as the Law Office Of Daniel E Goodman, for more info.
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