Personal Injury Myths and Misconceptions in Texas

Accidents happen every day, even to the most careful and attentive drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. All it takes is for another driver to take their eyes off the road for a second—suddenly, you find yourself suffering a painful injury requiring extensive medical care and a lengthy recovery. As you focus on your physical health, you may also worry about the medical bills that are piling up and the wages your injuries have forced you to lose out on during your recovery. Fortunately, Texas allows accident victims to file a personal injury claim to recover the compensation they need to support their recovery. This process can be complicated to navigate on your own, so consider enlisting the assistance of an experienced and understanding Houston personal injury attorney to maximize your settlement offer. In the meantime, let’s take a look at and debunk some of the most common misconceptions about the personal injury claims process.

Myth #1: All Settlements Are Considerable

Although some personal injury cases can result in substantial payouts, most are fairly modest. Essentially, the personal injury claims process allows those injured at the hands of a reckless or negligent party to seek and secure compensation to cover costs associated with the accident (i.e., medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages, treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.). This means that claims involving minor injuries settle for much less than claims involving significant injuries that require lengthy hospital stays, permanent disfigurement, or ongoing medical care. Your personal injury lawyer can help you assess the details of your case and determine the amount of compensation you can expect to receive from the at-fault party.

Myth #2: The Insurance Company is On Your Side

When you move forward with a personal injury claim, you can expect to communicate with insurance companies. An insurance adjuster will be assigned to oversee and investigate your claim, and they may appear to be friendly and helpful at first. However, it’s essential to recognize that insurance companies are highly motivated to protect their bottom lines. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible to save them money. The insurance adjuster may try to make you believe they are on your side, but they will likely use tactics to get you to admit fault or otherwise undermine the validity of your claim. Communicating with insurance adjusters can be stressful and frustrating, so you may want your personal injury attorney to step in to handle these negotiations on your behalf.

Myth #3: Visiting a Doctor Isn’t Necessary

In the aftermath of an accident, some injuries are apparent and require immediate medical attention. However, you may not think your injury is severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. The strength of your personal injury claim often relies on the quality and quantity of evidence you can use to show the financial, physical, and emotional toll the accident has taken on your life. Visiting a physician within a day or two after the accident allows the doctor to assess you for harder-to-detect injuries like concussions or internal bleeding and also creates documents detailing the nature, extent, and prognosis of your injuries. When you start preparing your personal injury claim, you can use these medical records to corroborate your request for compensation.

Myth #4: You Should Accept the Initial Settlement Offer

Personal injury claims take time to process, so it’s understandable that you would want to accept the first settlement offer right away. Unfortunately, doing so means you will likely lose out on a more favorable settlement offer, as insurance companies usually use peoples’ eagerness to pay them as little as possible. It’s important to approach the initial settlement offer with skepticism, knowing that you have the right to push for a more equitable amount of compensation. Your attorney can help you negotiate a better offer, as most insurance companies will want to cooperate with you to avoid moving the matter to court.

Myth #5: You Don’t Need to Work With a Personal Injury Lawyer

Although Texas does not require accident victims to work with an attorney to file a personal injury claim, doing so is highly recommended. Coping with an unexpected injury is stressful enough—why make things harder on yourself during this challenging time? When you enlist the guidance of a caring and experienced attorney, you can trust that they will work hard to obtain the best possible outcome for you. They will answer your questions, address your concerns, and encourage you to rest assured that you will secure the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

If you need help collecting compensation following an accident in Houston, call DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC, at (832) 745-4878 to discuss your case with a dedicated and caring personal injury lawyer.