At The Gogel Law Firm, our St. Louis personal injury attorney knows that filing a successful claim against an at-fault party’s insurance company requires compiling all the necessary evidence and documents to prove we have a solid case that must be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, there are many reasons why Missouri injury victims take on insurance companies without the help of a skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyer, which can lead to the demise of their recovery efforts.
Here are the most common myths associated with Do-It-Yourself injury claims.
Personal Injury Claim Myth #1: The Insurance Company Will Compensate You For All Your Injuries
While most injury victims believe if their accidents were caused by a negligent driver, property owner, or medical professional they can file a successful claim with ease, demanding their damages be paid in full.
When dealing with any insurance company, including your own, it is important to know they are not interested in your damages. They are only interested in protecting their bottom line.
This is true even when the negligent party — the insurance company’s policyholder — was clearly at fault, including during a drunk driving accident, property owners knowing about but not repairing dangerous conditions on their premises, or during medical malpractice.
The insurance company is going to fight your claim with confusing jargon and requests for additional documents and evidence of liability, until they wear you down. Once they have succeeded, they will undervalue your claim or outright deny it.
Even if you have already started the claim process with the at-fault party’s insurance company, we can help pursue the maximum amount for your case. Contact our skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyer today for help.
Personal Injury Claim Myth #2: The Liable Party Must Pay for Your Damages Out of Pocket
This myth is common during premises liability claims where the injured party was hurt at a friend, family member, or neighbor’s house, and does not want someone they know or even love to have to pay for their damages. However, it can also occur when they are hurt at a small business or at work, and do not want a property owner or employer to have to pay for their damages.
Most of the time, the other party is not responsible for directly paying for the damages caused by a dog bite, slip and fall, or other premises liability accident. The expenses related to your compensation will be handled by their insurance company. This, again, brings us back to the initial myth that the insurance company will gladly pay for your damages, which is simply not true.
We can help you understand how the complete personal injury claim process works, starting with a free consultation.
Personal Injury Claim Myth #3: Lawsuits Take a Long Time to Produce Results
One of the most common myths about personal injury cases is that it can take years to reach an outcome that awards the injured person compensation for their damages.
When injury victims consider the prospect of hiring an attorney and having to prepare and file the proper paperwork, negotiate with the other party, and the time it takes to reach a favorable outcome, the personal injury process can be intimidating.
The good news is, depending on the extent of your injuries, and the number of liable parties, your personal injury claim can be completed in just a few months.
Contact our St. Louis personal injury attorney today to review your case by calling (314) 370-8173 or online to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue the insurance company for your damages, so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery while we handle the details of your claim.
