Many patients relying on the doctors at HURT911 suffered injuries in a personal injury accident. And many of them are not aware of their real rights to recover damages and how to file a claim against the injured party. This is why our team of Decatur personal injury lawyers decided to debunk common myths and share true facts about this legal field.
MYTH: If You Are Partly at Fault, You Cannot Recover Damages
A handful of U.S. states still use the doctrine stating that you must be 0% at fault in order to seek damages. Fortunately, Georgia does not follow this strict principle. Our legislators know that people may have been slightly negligent, but the party that bears the largest part of fault should compensate them for their damages.
Our state follows a comparative negligence doctrine, which states that you have to be less than 50% at fault in order to have the right to seek compensation after a personal injury accident.
FACT: Your Compensation Will Be Reduced by Your Percentage of Fault
To maintain fairness in all personal injury claims, Georgia law states that both parties’ percentage of fault must be determined. Also, the plaintiff will be able to recover only an amount reduced from the total damages by their percentage of fault.
This is one of the reasons why you should let a personal injury attorney negotiate your claim. Faced with a solid case, which cannot be easily dismissed, insurance adjusters will try to increase your proportion of fault in order to reduce the value of your settlement.
MYTH: Lawyers Are Expensive and Not Everyone Can Afford Them
Traditionally, legal services are expensive, especially if you have to pay an attorney by the hour. However, this is not how personal injury lawyers charge fees. It is clear that the people who mostly need their services are already in debt, due to medical care bills and lost wages.
Most attorneys specializing in personal injury law work on a contingency fee basis. It means that the lawyer will get their fees after they win the case, as a percentage out of the total settlement amount.
FACT: People with Lawyers Get Larger Settlements
Statistical data and research studies on personal injury settlements show that people who were represented by a lawyer won almost 3.5 times larger settlements than plaintiffs who negotiated on their own.
This is because an attorney knows how to calculate the actual value of your claim and will not accept the first offer the insurance company makes. And insurers know that an attorney will not hesitate to escalate the matter to court, if they cannot get a fair settlement. This is why most personal injury cases are resolved through negotiations and result in a satisfactory payout for the injured person.
MYTH: Lawyers Will Only Get Involved If You Have a Big Case
Not all lawyers are created equal. Some will only look for cases with large damages, in order to walk away with a considerable contingency fee amount. Others seek cases that are easy to win without a lot of work.
Reputable Decatur personal injury lawyers at HURT911 do not shy away from cases involving average damages or complex negotiations. We believe that every accident victim deserves justice, so call 1-800-HURT911 if you need legal representation.
FACT: Our Lawyers and Doctors Work Together to Help You
At HURT911, you will find an integrated team of attorneys who will handle your personal injury case and doctors who will help you recover from our injuries. We work together, building your case with evidence and medical records, so that you will obtain the fair compensation you deserve.
Since our legal team handles your case, you won’t have to worry about medical care costs. We will add them to your claim, and you won’t have to pay any upfront fees or even use your health insurance.
Stop Believing Personal Injury Myths – Call 1-800-HURT911!
If you suffered injuries due to someone’s negligence, you may have a personal injury case. This is a case that our Decatur personal injury lawyer can handle, while our doctors will diagnose you and determine the best course of treatment to make a full recovery.
Do not rely on what you read online about filing claims – call 1-800-HURT911 and let us help you get better and protect your legal rights!
