If you are injured because of another person or company’s negligence, you may be eligible to collect compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer residents trust. Personal injury lawsuits can help you recover from the financial and emotional damage resulting from the accident, but it’s important to know the true facts before filing a claim. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim and what steps to take next. But, there are often lots of myths people hear that stop them from pursuing a claim. According to our friends at David & Philpot, P.L., these are some of the most common myths and why you should not listen to them.
I Am too Old or Young
Age is never a factor when it comes to personal injury claims. The truth is that anyone can be injured at any time, anywhere, and by any person. Injuries are not selective and do not discriminate based on age, gender or other factors. If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligence of someone else, it is important to understand your rights and the legal process for compensation. That is why you should contact a lawyer immediately.
I Didn’t Suffer Enough Physical Pain
Many people believe that the only way to be compensated for a personal injury claim is if you were in debilitating pain. However, this is not the case. Physical pain from an accident or injury may come in waves, and many times it may feel worse during certain activities than others. If you are experiencing what you believe to be chronic pain, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Painkillers can provide relief while doctors make a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. While you may not experience the same level of physical discomfort as someone who has suffered severe injuries such as broken bones or burns, your pain should not be discounted or taken less seriously.
Physical pain is also not the only pain that has to be suffered to receive compensation. Mental health matters too, and if you are suffering issues such as depression or PTSD due to an accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney for help.
I Don’t Have Any Witnesses
If you were in an accident with no witnesses, you can still file a personal injury claim. The only requirement is that it was not your fault and you are seeking compensation for damages caused to your body or property. If you don’t have any witnesses, it’s still possible to win your case. There are other ways of proving fault that may not require another person’s testimony. For example, if you are in a car accident and if the injuries on one side of your body align with the injuries on the opposite side of the car, this would be sufficient proof that the other driver was at fault. Even without physical evidence, a forensic engineer could examine your car to assess how much damage there is and what would need to happen in order for this damage to occur. Other methods might involve reconstructing the accident using computer modeling software based on photos taken at the scene of the incident.
It Wasn’t that Serious
A lot of people think that a personal injury claim is just for those who were in an accident that caused them physical harm. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. A personal injury claim can be filed for any type of accident, whether or not it was your fault and whether or not you suffered physical injuries.
In fact, one of the most common types of claims is for emotional distress. There are a lot of these with car accidents because people often experience post-traumatic stress disorder from being involved in such a traumatic event. Another common example is when someone suffers psychological trauma from witnessing a horrific crime, like robbery or sexual assault.
If you have been injured in an accident of some sort, make sure to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately for help with your case.