Many people think twice before calling a Cincinnati personal injury lawyer to schedule a free case review because they heard a lot of negative things about this profession. Plus, many people are confident that they can settle a slip and fall or a car accident on their own because the law is on their side.
So let us look at the most common myths and misconceptions related to attorneys and personal injury cases. If you need help with a case, contact us today for a free consultation.
1. Personal Injury Lawyers Are Ambulance Chasers
People usually know about personal injury attorneys from movies, where these people in suits chase injured people to give them their business cards. This has nothing to do with the way lawyers work.
First of all, there are laws preventing lawyers from soliciting clients. Secondly, the ones who chase ambulances are actually insurance adjusters, who are trying to trick you into accepting lowball settlements or believing that you do not have a case.
Our attorneys will never pressure you into signing a retainer agreement. You will get answers to all your questions, so that you can understand how much your case is worth and if you can trust the lawyer to represent you.
2. You Don’t Need a Lawyer If You Suffered a Minor Accident
Minor accidents can still result in thousands of dollars of economic damages representing:
- Medical care costs
- Lost wages
- Property damage.
And insurance companies are not sympathetic even when it comes to small claims. Their first approach is to discourage you from filing a claim. If you persist, they will start looking for ways to deny your claim, usually by trying to get you to contradict yourself or admit fault.
These tactics usually work if you don’t have a lawyer to explain your legal rights, collect evidence, and negotiate with insurance adjusters. Even after you pay the contingency fee, you are still left with sufficient money to cover your economic damages and be compensated for pain and suffering.
3. A Lawyer Can’t Convince the Insurer to Settle for More than the Initial Offer
Many people believe that the first amount quoted by an insurer is their last and final offer. This is a myth that insurance companies want to perpetuate and have you believe. In reality, this is the lowest amount they believe they can get away with.
A Cincinnati personal injury attorney will calculate your actual damages, inquire about the maximum coverage of the policy, and negotiate a fair settlement. Lawyers know how to present evidence and invoke legal principles to convince insurers to pay a fair compensatory amount.
If these tactics don’t work, the attorney will inform the insurer that you will file a lawsuit against their client and they have to defend them in court. In most cases, this final argument will persuade them to agree to a fair settlement.
4. You Don’t Have to Hurry and Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
This is another myth that insurance companies want you to believe. They will also tell you that you don’t have to hurry with your claim because there is sufficient time to deal with that after you are fully healed.
In reality, the statute of limitations in Ohio for personal injury is two years after the date of the accident. This is the deadline for filing a lawsuit in case your claim is denied or you do not agree with the settlement amount.
Thus, you should hire an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to file and negotiate your claim. In this way, there is sufficient time left to prepare for a potential lawsuit.
5. You Don’t Afford an Attorney
Finally, a lot of people believe that hiring a lawyer will put a further dent into their already strained finances. In reality, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that you don’t have to pay any fees upfront. The lawyer will retain their fee as a percentage of the total settlement amount they manage to negotiate for you. In other words, the lawyer won’t get paid until they win your case.
Find the Truth about Your Case from an Experienced Cincinnati Personal Injury Attorney!
Forget about any myths and preconceived ideas. If you were injured and suffered economic damages through someone’s negligence, talk to a Cincinnati personal injury lawyer. You will get a reliable opinion about the merit and value of your case.
We offer each new client a free case review, so call us at 844-853-7373 to set up your initial consultation with us!
