If you’ve had an accident at the hands of someone else, or whether it was a medical mistake it can be tricky knowing where to turn. You may be faced with burning questions such as whether your case will take forever or whether you’re guaranteed money.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the concept of personal injury or medical negligence – help is at hand! To help you decide whether to claim, we’ve busted the top 5 most common personal injury/ medical negligence myths.
Myth 1: Claims are “easy money”
Although you may have a strong case, personal injury or medical negligence claims are not easy money. In fact, most claims are compensating you for costs you have incurred as a result of your injury. So you may be able to recover costs spent on emergency treatment, wages or compensation for the pain of the accident rather than earning a huge bonus.
Furthermore, although personal injury and medical negligence claims are touted as easy money, new rules are being brought in for whiplash claims meaning easy money just got even less easy and fewer than 1 percent of medical malpractice claims result in awards of $1 million or higher.
Myth 2: As the plaintiff, I am guaranteed compensation.
A good personal injury and medical negligence lawyer will maximise your chances of compensation. But it’s not guaranteed!
Whether or not you will receive compensation depends entirely on your situation, so it’s impossible to guarantee you’ll win. Especially since there are thousands of both personal injury and medical negligence claims every year.
Myth 3: I don’t need to consult a lawyer
Unless you know the law inside out, you’ll want a good lawyer by your side. Although not all cases require legal representation, you want to be aware of all the legal issues surrounding your case, the timeframe and the compensation process.
Not to mention it’s less stressful!
Myth 4: My case will take “forever” to finish.
Although it’s not a fast process, most claims should be finished within a year. As long as you bring the case in time, that is.
Myth 5: I can file at any time
According to the Citizens Advice Bureau, you must make your claim within 3 years of the initial accident or medical mistake. If not, you won’t be able to access your compensation. So, it’s best to start proceedings sooner rather than later.
In conclusion
The bottom line is that although there are some common myths when it comes to personal injury and medical negligence claims, a good solicitor will be able to separate the truth from the lies. Although personal injury claims and medical negligence have a reputation for being slow, easy money – it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Have you made a claim yet?
If you’ve had an accident or medical mistake that wasn’t your fault, making a claim may be more straightforward than you’d think.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
