Common Misconceptions about Personal Injury Lawsuits
At Shea, Kohl & Alessi, LC our lawyers often hear misconceptions from clients about Saint Charles personal injury settlements and lawsuits. Unless cleared up, such misconceptions cause people to make uniformed decisions. While friends and family may refer you to an excellent personal injury lawyer, their opinions about injury lawsuits are often riddled with falsehoods, such as:
- The insurance company must pay because it is their job and that is why I carry insurance.
Rest assured that insurance companies are in the business of making profits. The fact is they are one of the wealthiest industries in the United States. Insurance companies have been known to deny and delay valid claims, lowball recoveries, and cancel policies retroactively. Such practice is called bad faith insurance and is not uncommon.
People fall prey to agent misrepresentation when during policy sale, the representative fails to point out the fine print, allowing the customer unwitting to believe he or she is buying one type of policy when in truth he or she is getting another. If you believe an insurance company is mishandling your claim, a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can file a to protect your rights.
- I should settle soon or my claim could take years with little recovery anyway.
When handled by a competent lawyer, most claims are more likely to yield fair compensation than when a client quickly settles on his or her own.
- I will get more money if I handle my own claim and do not have to pay legal fees.
Frequently, people have no idea of what a personal injury claim is worth. They are not experienced in dealing with insurance companies and do not know the industry standards for fair compensation.
When an insurance company sees that a personal injury lawyer is representing you in a Saint Charles injury lawsuit, you immediately gain leverage at the negotiating table. A good personal injury lawyer seeks the compensation entitled by law and most people fair far better even with legal fees when represented by an attorney.
- If I file a personal injury claim I am just being greedy and harming the person who injured me.
If no one holds responsible parties accountable, other people may suffer similar misfortunes from the same parties.
Discuss your Saint Charles injury lawsuit in a free consultation
Please contact us today to arrange a free initial consultation at (636) 946-9999.