Personal Injury Attorney - The Truth Behind 5 Common Misconceptions

A personal injury attorney works hard to protect the rights of those who have suffered due to negligence, but you couldn't tell that by the public's reaction to such lawsuits. This field has received an unfair stigma in recent years.

When it comes to hiring a personal injury attorney and filing a claim, poorly written commercials and sensationalized media are largely to blame for the many misconceptions about lawsuits. Trigger happy victims, eager to claim some quick cash are few and far between. And unfortunately, those unbelievable settlements are also fabricated or greatly exaggerated. Here are five lies and the reality behind the justice system.


1. Get Rich Quick

Hiring a personal injury attorney is not a good get rich quick scheme. Cases of million dollar payouts are few and far between, but they are often the only ones represented in the media, giving the public a disproportionate view of the reality of the justice system. A victim is entitled to be made "whole" again, which means current and future medical bills, lost wages, damaged property, and in some cases pain and suffering will be awarded compensation. After lawyer expenses and other costs, clients are fortunate to have enough left over to cover related bills.


2. It Takes Years

Are you reluctant to file a claim because of the time commitment? If most cases were as time consuming as they might seem on the surface, how would lawyers find the time to commit to several different clients at once? The court system can be inefficient and sluggish at times, but there's a big difference between a couple of months and 12 of them. Some cases may only even take a few weeks if both parties are cooperative.

3. I Can't Afford a Good Enough Personal Injury Attorney

It is true that insurance companies come equipped with some very skilled and expensive legal representatives. But, they also know when they've been licked. If an insurance company or any other large corporation is responsible for the damages, odds are they know it and are just hoping you'll take a smaller settlement. Even a newly graduated lawyer will be able to negotiate successfully in these cases. You'll still want someone with experience and who you can trust, but that doesn't have to cost six figures.

4. I Won't Get Compensation

It isn't uncommon to be fighting for compensation from a penniless party. The people who drive without car insurance, after all, are those who can't afford it in the first place. It is true that you may not see a lump sum in your mailbox after the trial, but money will trickle in. Usually wages will be garnished accordingly (unless you sue the chronically unemployed). The catch is you may have to continue to renew the judgment on a regular basis to keep it active. This can be done for several years.


5. I'll Look Greedy

Yes, there have been instances of frivolous lawsuits going to court, and it tends to be the personal injury attorney and client who get the most flack for their participation. However, if you have suffered due to another person's negligence you are a victim, not a gold digger. There are far more genuine clients than greedy ones.

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