Latest Blogs

When you have a personal injury claim, mistakes can be costly. As a result, you should make sure you are relying on trustworthy information, and you need to avoid making decisions based on bad advice. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths out there. Below, our Fort Myers injury attorney discusses five particularly dangerous myths about personal injury claims in Florida.

Myth #1: The Insurance Companies Will Never Pay What You are Owed

Some people will tell you that no matter what you do, the insurance companies will never pay what you are owed. They will tell you that the insurance companies have the upper hand, and the insurance companies will take advantage of you even if you think you are doing everything necessary to protect your legal rights.

This is why you need an attorney like Randall L. Spivey who is Board Certified in Civil Trial law by the Florida Bar Association.  If you are not represented by an attorney, collecting compensation from the insurance companies after an accident can be frustrating and challenging. With the right approach and an experienced and skilled Fort Myers injury attorney representing you, we will fight to collect the compensation you deserve. While the insurance companies’ first offer might not be close to providing proper compensation, your lawyer can negotiate for a fair settlement and take the insurance companies to court, if necessary.

Myth #2: If You Have a Personal Injury Claim, Justice Will Prevail

On the other hand, some people believe that if you are entitled to compensation, justice will naturally prevail. But, this isn’t always the case either. When you have a personal injury claim, it takes time, effort and dedication to win the financial compensation you deserve.

In fact, there are several steps involved in pursuing a personal injury claim, and some of these steps need to be taken right away. For example, accident victims should seek medical treatment immediately and hire a law firm to investigate and collect evidence as soon as possible. If an accident victim does not take these steps based on the assumption that everything will work out, he or she may lose the ability to pursue a successful claim.

Myth #3: You Can Negotiate a Fair Settlement on Your Own

Many individuals try to handle their own personal injury claims – car accident and motorcycle accident claims in particular – because they believe they can negotiate a fair settlement without a Fort Myers injury attorney. Some believe they can convince the insurance adjusters to pay, and they would rather keep their entire settlement than pay a lawyer’s contingency fees.

However, there are a few issues with this approach. First, most people are not aware of all of the various tactics that insurance companies use to deny accident victims’ claims. Second, calculating your losses and determining what constitutes a fair settlement requires in-depth medical, financial and legal knowledge. Third, as we discuss below in Myth #5, a reputable lawyer will only take your case if he or she believes they can help maximize your take-home recovery.

Myth #4: Hiring a Fort Myers Injury Attorney Will Prolong the Process

There are many misconceptions about personal injury lawyers. One common misconception about hiring a personal injury lawyer is that doing so will prolong the process of pursuing your claim.

In truth, it may take longer to resolve your claim with a lawyer, but this is only because your lawyer is ensuring that you do not settle your claim too soon. If you settle your personal injury claim quickly without a lawyer representing you, there is a very small chance that you are receiving the full compensation to which you are entitled.

Myth #5: Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer is Expensive

Another common misconception is that when you hire a personal injury lawyer, your lawyer’s fees will be expensive. This is absolutely not the case when you hire a reputable lawyer to represent you.

Personal injury lawyers handle cases on a contingency-fee basis. With contingency-fee representation: (i) your lawyer only gets paid if you win, and (ii) your lawyer’s fees (if any) are calculated as a percentage of your award. This means that hiring a personal injury lawyer is not expensive (it costs nothing out of pocket), and it also means that your legal fees will be just a fraction of your total recovery.

Schedule a Free Personal Injury Consultation at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

If you believe you may have a personal injury claim, we strongly recommend that you speak with a Fort Myers injury attorney about your case. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with personal injury lawyer Randall L. Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., please call 239-337-7483 or 888-477-4839 or get in touch online now.