The personal injury attorneys and staff at McMahon, Kublick & Smith have spoken with thousands of New Yorker’s about personal injury claims over the years. It is unfortunate, but many people are reluctant to contact an attorney. Here are eight common personal injury claim myths that many people believe to be true, but are not.
If personal injury victims don’t take full advantage of their legal rights, they are really walking away from the aid and help to which they are entitled under New York personal injury law. We often speak with personal injury and workplace injury victims who attempted to handle their injury claim without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney and are deeply disappointed to find their results originally expected are not met.
Eight Common Personal Injury Claim Myths
Below is an extremely incomplete list of only eight common personal injury claim myths people still believe:
- Writing a letter to the insurance company will get me reasonable and positive settlement for my injury case. I like to believe the insurance companies are on my side. Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible to injured victims. It is their job to pay out as little as possible. They may offer you a settlement amount, but often it is not as much as you would receive if you had an experienced injury attorney were hired to represent your claim.
- You have to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company after being involved in an automobile accident. That is not true. We strongly advise against doing this until you’ve consulted with a attorney.
- All attorneys have the same experience, abilities, and tools to represent their accident victims. Like teachers, doctors, and other professionals, each lawyer is equipped with their own set of skills and abilities. At the Law Offices of McMahon, Kublick & Smith, we have over three decades of experience helping each of our clients
- Your medical bills will be paid for by the insurance company of the at fault driver as they are incurred. Typically, your insurance company will have to pay your bills up front. If you don’t have insurance, the bills will be left for you to pay. Once your claim has been resolved, the appropriate parties will then be reimbursed for any payments.
- All personal injury attorneys charge the same fees for representation. Some attorneys may charge you a fee regardless of whether your claim goes to trial or settles outside court. In fact, your specific circumstance and situation should be taken into account.
- Because you were in an accident that was not your fault, their is an insurance company that will pay for your injuries, bills and lost wages. Not necessarily. Unfortunately the at-fault parties sometimes do not have insurance. When they do, you will likely have to fight for appropriate compensation.
- The person or doctor that is responsible for my injuries will have to pay. This is almost never the case. The insurance company for the individual or doctor who is at fault is typically the party that will pay for your injuries.
- Your lawyer should refer you to a doctor. While it is perfectly acceptable for an attorney to suggest you visit a specialist or doctor, it is unethical for them to refer their clients to specific doctors.
What If I’ve been Injured as a Result of Someone Else’s Negligence?
This above list of eight common personal injury claim myths is by no means complete. What is important to remember, however, is that if you believe you have sustained a serious personal injury as a result of someone else’s negligence or a workplace injury resulting in a workers compensation claim, it is vital that you contact an experienced Syracuse personal injury attorney as quickly as possible. Acting quickly can make all the difference.
The Syracuse personal injury and workers compensation lawyers at McMahon, Kublick & Smith, PC have the knowledge and decades of experience to aggressively help you with your case. Call us today at (315) 424-1105 to schedule a FREE personal injury case evaluation and consultation.
