What claims have you heard about road accidents in the past? Are these claims true? Well, there have been quite a number of myths about road accident claims over the past decades. Such claims could, in one way or another, affect the outcome of your case if you or a family member was involved in a road accident. And the earlier you stop believing such myths, the better position you’ll be about following the legal and right steps in the event of a road accident. Please read on to know such myths.
- It’s Not Worth to Hire an Accident Attorney
You may be thinking that your insurer will handle everything hence no need for hiring an auto law attorney. After all, you’ve been regularly paying for your auto insurance premium, right? But the fact is, when it comes to your claim, your insurer is nowhere close to being your ally. And this is where injury lawyers come in to help ensure that your best interests are represented and you’re rightfully compensated. So, shun away from believing this myth and hire a personal injury attorney experienced in handling similar cases to help fight for your rights. You can visit emrochandkilduff.com/virginia-auto-accident-lawyer/ for more information.
- Police Can Decide the Party at Fault
In the event of an accident, the police will only check for potential injuries and document the accident. In the report, they’ll state the possible cause of the accident. Many people have been misguided by this information and have believed that the police can decide the party at fault. However, it’s the mandate of the jury to determine the responsible party and they’ll only use the accident report as an evidence.
- You Can’t File a Claim If You Were Partly at Fault
Perhaps you’ve heard this claim a couple of times. That if you’re partly at fault, there’s no need to file a claim. Well, this is absolutely wrong. Most states are “comparative negligence” states. Therefore, you are eligible to be compensated even if you were partly at fault. However, you must be less than 50% at fault for your case to be considered for compensation.
- You Don’t Need to Seek Medical Attention If You Feel Fine
Some injuries may not manifest immediately after the accident. This means that you could feel fine but have actually sustained some injuries. Injuries like soft tissue injuries, back, neck, brain, and head injuries can hardly be detected without diagnostic testing and you may feel their effect over time. Therefore, don’t fall to this myth. Ensure to visit a certified medical professional immediately for a full body check-up regardless of the nature of your lifestyle. Besides, the medical bills are an important evidence when you file the claim.
- You Can Leave the Scene If the Accident Was Very Minor
This is a very risky myth that you need to stop believing immediately. It’s a legal requirement by all states that you remain at the scene following an accident regardless of the extent of injuries or property damage. You need to pull over and check for injuries, if any, then call the police. As you wait for the police, get as many evidence as possible. Now, what happens if you leave the scene before the arrival of the police or exchanging contacts with the other driver? Well, you may be charged with a hit and run, and this is not a good thing.
Conclusion
There are a lot of misleading information about road accidents. And you may easily find yourself believing such myths when you don’t know the truth. But not anymore. Now you have known the most common myths most people believe in and you’re in a better position to avoid believing. Also, look out to other relevant blogs relating to auto law to learn more about road accident claims and legal practice.