The Most Common Myths About Personal Injury Claims
Dealing with personal injury can be an incredibly stressful process. Unfortunately, there are many common misconceptions about personal injury claims that prevent victims from collecting the compensation they are rightfully owed. Being informed can help you make the best possible decisions for your specific case. You should never have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. Have you fallen prey to the most common myths about personal injury claims?
Myth #1: You Can File a Personal Injury Claim Without a Lawyer
While this is technically true, it is seldom advisable for most personal injury victims. You may believe that working directly with the insurance company will be your best option in recovering your damages. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Because every dollar they pay you comes out of their own pockets, insurance companies have every reason to minimize the settlement amount they offer.
It can be easy to get swept away and intimidated by the legal jargon used 
by insurance claims adjusters. Oftentimes, victims do not even realize that they have the option to negotiate or contest a settlement offer. Working with an experienced Syracuse personal injury lawyer is your best bet to get the full value of your claim.
Myth #2: Personal Injury Lawyers Are Costly
Many times, victims are too intimidated to seek legal counsel. They may believe that they cannot afford a good lawyer, or that their case will cost them more than it is worth. While it is certainly true that every case is different, it is important to know that most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that they charge contingency fees rather than taking an hourly rate. In layman’s terms, this simply means that they will agree to a fixed percentage of your winnings. If you do not win, you do not have to pay any contingency fees at all.
Myth #3: I Have Time to File My Claim
When it comes to personal injury claims, time is of the essence. You want to file well in advance of the statute of limitations for your case while also giving your attorney enough time to prepare for your case. In the state of New York, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years.
Myth #4: My Injuries Are Too Minor to File a Personal Injury Claim
You may not believe that your injuries are severe enough to warrant a personal injury claim. In reality, any injury can be serious enough to open up a personal injury case. If you have incurred any out-of-pocket medical expenses as a result of your accident or find that your injuries have led to pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or anything in between, you may be entitled to take legal action.
Seeking Legal Help
No matter what kind of personal injury accident you have recently suffered, you have the right to seek legal help and compensation from a Syracuse personal injury attorney. Contact Gattuso & Ciottoli, PLLC any time day or night at (315) 314-8000 for a free consultation drawing on over 50 years of combined legal experience. Our offices are based in Syracuse and we proudly serve the Central New York area, including Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, North Syracuse, Camillus, Liverpool, Cortland, and Auburn.