Kenny Habetz Injury Law | July 18, 2023 | Personal Injury
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding personal injury cases, which can make it difficult for accident victims to have a good understanding of their legal rights and options.
A personal injury lawyer from Kenny Habetz Injury Law can dispel these common myths and tell you the real deal. Continue reading this blog post for further insight, and feel free to reach out for a consultation to learn about your best legal course of action if you’ve recently been hurt in an accident.
Myth #1: I Have To Go To Trial To Get Money for My Injuries
Some people believe that their options are to go to trial or not recover any compensation for their injuries. But this is not true. According to data from the U.S. Department of Justice, only 3% of civil cases involving real property, contracts, or torts were resolved by a trial.
Many personal injury cases are resolved through settlements and insurance claims instead. A skilled negotiator can often reach a fair agreement that provides adequate compensation for the injury victim. If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, your personal injury lawyer can discuss the possibility of going to trial to pursue fair compensation.
Myth #2: Personal Injury Claims Are a Cash Grab
Some people wrongly associate personal injury claims as a way for people to get money they don’t deserve. However, most personal injury cases are based on someone’s careless actions that led to serious harm.
Accident victims may have suffered painful injuries, lost time from work, and had their property damaged, just to name a few examples. They are not looking for a handout. They’re just trying to be properly compensated for the losses they’ve already incurred and might experience in the future. Additionally, they are looking for the wrongdoer to take accountability for their careless actions.
Myth #3: I’m Going To Be a Millionaire
Because multimillion-dollar recoveries are widely publicized, some accident victims assume they will be able to get a huge windfall if they pursue a personal injury claim. However, this is not the case for most accident victims.
In many cases, accident victims are limited to the insurance policy’s limit. For example, in a Louisiana car accident, the at-fault driver may only have the minimum amount of insurance the state requires, which is:
- $15,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $30,000 for bodily injury to more than one person
- $25,000 for damage to someone else’s vehicle
This means that you may only receive limited compensation if the at-fault driver does not have significant assets that make filing a personal injury lawsuit against them feasible.
It is important to have a realistic idea about the potential value of your claim. If there is additional insurance available or other parties share in the fault, you may be able to recover more compensation.
Your personal injury lawyer can prepare a demand letter that outlines how the accident occurred, why the defendant is responsible for it, and the amount of compensation you agree to accept in exchange for releasing your claim.
Myth #4: I Can’t Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer
This particular myth is often perpetuated by insurance companies that prefer to handle claims without lawyers. This is usually because individual claimants often do not realize the full value of their claim or even that they have a right to compensation.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can fight for the maximum compensation available for the claim, and the insurance adjuster wants to limit the amount of compensation it provides the claimant.
At Kenny Habetz Injury Law, you don’t have to worry about attorney’s fees. This is because you only pay these fees after we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
Myth #5: The Insurance Company Will Help Me
This is a particularly dangerous myth to believe in, perhaps reinforced by propaganda that discusses how insurance companies will treat you like family and be there for you in your time of need.
To avoid buying into this lie, it’s important to think about what an insurance company is – a for-profit business. It makes money by paying less out on claims than it receives in premiums. Its interest is in making money.
Insurance companies don’t make money by offering all accident victims top dollar for their claims.
They want to limit their financial exposure to maximize their profit margins. In contrast, personal injury lawyers want to help their clients recover the maximum compensation available. We are on your side.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer To Help Negotiate Your Settlement
Before accepting any settlement offer or trying to resolve your claim on your own, speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer who will safeguard your rights. Oftentimes, hiring an attorney means you’ll recover more compensation even after their fees are taken out.
And since most lawyers in the field offer free initial consultations, you can reach out for preliminary legal advice at no charge.
Contact the Louisiana Personal Injury Law Firm Of Kenny Habetz Injury Law for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a personal injury please call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case evaluation with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer or contact us online. We have offices in Lafayette and Crowley, LA.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Lafayette
110 E Kaliste Saloom Rd Ste 101 Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 399-9000
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Crowley
604 S Parkerson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526
(337) 329-8883
