The Three Biggest Misconceptions About Personal Injury Claims

People have many questions and misconceptions about the personal injury recovery process in North Carolina. Here are the top three most common ones.

1. Perhaps the most common misconception is that the at-fault party or their insurance company will cover all medical expenses during the claims process. The truth is, if you are in a crash and receive medical treatment, the financial aspect of that interaction is a contract between you and that medical provider. Neither the at-fault party nor their insurance provider is involved in that transaction. If the at-fault party is indeed deemed to have been at fault, the only time they would pay for medical treatment is after the case’s conclusion. These situations are not like health insurance; bills are not paid as they come in.
2. The second most common misconception people have regarding the personal injury recovery process in North Carolina is that hiring an attorney means they will file a lawsuit. This is actually a misconception that the insurance industry likes to propagate. The reality is that the vast majority of cases see no litigation filed whatsoever. Of those that do, only a handful end up in the courtroom. Insurance companies want people to avoid hiring attorneys because attorneys can guide people, explain how the law works on their behalf and get appropriate compensation from an insurance company. People who do not hire an attorney have a much lower chance of successfully navigating the personal injury recovery process in North Carolina, if they can at all.
3. The third biggest misconception people have is that whoever the police find at fault has to pay the other’s damages. Law enforcement officers are called to the scene to investigate the accident, mainly for data purposes and to determine if there were any violations of criminal law. A claim against someone for payment of damages is a civil matter. Of course, what the law enforcement officer says happened plays a role in the civil case, but it does not create an obligation that compels the insurance company to pay on the basis of what the law enforcement officer reported.

For more information on the misconceptions people have about personal injury claims, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling 336-781-4606 today.