Bad Excuses for Not Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Many people suffer serious injuries caused by another’s negligence, but do nothing to hold the other party accountable. They never pursue a personal injury claim, even if they’re entitled to compensation. They’re left with medical bills, lost sick and vacation time because they can’t work, and endure physical and emotional hardship without support. This doesn’t make any sense. Don’t fall into this trap.
Satterley & Kelley PLLC, is a Louisville law firm that gets results. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients throughout Kentucky. Call us at (855) 385-9532 to learn more about Kentucky law, how it may apply in your case, and how we can help you obtain the injury compensation you deserve.
Don’t Let Misunderstandings Prevent You from Protecting Your Legal Rights
You may have many concerns about getting involved in a personal injury claim. Whether those concerns are justified or not depends on your situation. A primary reason we invite people to contact us is to discuss their concerns, talk about their accident, and explain how insurance, Kentucky laws, and the legal system work. After we clear the air, you’re in a much better position to decide if a personal injury claim is right for you.
Here are some excuses people may use to avoid filing a personal injury claim.
1. I Don’t Want to Sue Anyone
Compensation typically comes from an insurance company, not from an individual or company. People and companies buy insurance because they know they may make mistakes, and if they do, they may need to pay compensation. They pay for insurance, so if this happens, their defense and compensation costs are covered (up to the policy’s limit). Filing a claim triggers the insurance benefits that should be available to you.
Additionally, most of our personal injury cases don’t involve lawsuits, so no one is sued. We negotiate a settlement with the insurance carrier so the matter is resolved before a legal claim is filed.
2. I Can’t Afford a Lawyer
After an accident and injury, your physical, mental, and financial health may be at risk. Medical bills pile up, you may be out of work, and the thought of paying an attorney may feel overwhelming. We work on a contingency-fee basis. In your case, you will pay nothing up front, and we will be paid from your settlement or jury verdict.
3. I Don’t Want to Deal with a Long, Stressful Process
A complex claim involving a severe injury may take years to resolve and will take some of your time and energy. But most of our clients’ cases resolve in months, not years. We do almost all the work so you can focus on recovery and living your life.
We will need your help at the start of the case to get your side of the story, and during the process we’ll need your input. Most cases require relatively little time and energy from our clients, but it’s critical to your case’s success. We will fit our schedule to yours so your life will be disrupted as little as possible.
4. My Injuries Aren’t Bad Enough to File a Claim
That may or may not be true. The only way to find out is to contact us so we can talk about your accident, your injury, its treatment, your prognosis, and how it impacts your life.
Your injury may not seem serious after an accident, but it may be much more complicated than you think. An important reason that you should not negotiate with an insurance company is that you may accept a settlement soon after your injury, before you fully understand how it will negatively affect your life.
5. The Insurance Company Will Treat Me Fairly
It might, but it’s not something you want to bet on. Insurance companies want to make more money for their shareholders or policyholders. They do that by cutting costs (including settlements) and earning returns from investing premiums they’re paid. The less they pay you, the more money they make. Insurance companies vary in how aggressively they’ll limit compensation, and some take it to extremes.
Insurance adjusters may sound friendly on the phone, but their job is to save the company money, not to fully pay injured claimants what they deserve. They want you to give them a recorded or written statement without you understanding their implications. They might downplay your injuries or tell you you’re more at fault than you actually are.
We see this practically every day. It’s insurance companies’ standard operating procedure.
6. I Don’t Want to Be Seen as “Sue-Happy”
Pursuing compensation is choosing not to carry the burden of someone else’s negligence. You shouldn’t financially punish yourself and your family if another party is responsible for your injury and how it’s affected your life.
You might worry that others may unfairly judge you for filing a lawsuit or insurance claim. You shouldn’t be ashamed of standing up for yourself. The party causing the accident, or their insurer, won’t out of the blue throw money at you. You must seek it.
Who learns about your insurance claim is largely up to you. Insurance companies, or the other party involved, will probably not announce what’s going on. If you file a lawsuit, the complaint is a public document, but unless the situation is extreme, newsworthy, and picked up by the media, few people will know about it.
7. It Was Partly My Fault
Under Kentucky law, that won’t prevent you from being compensated. Part of the claims process is determining your degree of fault, because your recovery will be reduced by your share of the accident’s cause.
This is an important issue we discuss with potential clients to help them understand what compensation they can reasonably expect. We thoroughly investigate all our cases. The evidence we uncover may show our clients they are more or less at fault than they believe.
8. I Just Want to Move On
Accident injuries are traumatic. You may want to avoid revisiting the accident or talking about your pain. But “moving on” from a valid compensation claim in the short term can lead to a stressful long-term financial hardship. Medical bills can last for years. Lost income can have ripple effects. Chronic pain can make everyday life harder.
It’s ultimately up to you to decide what to do. If remembering your accident and injury is too painful to face, professional psychological help could help you live a better life and proceed with a personal injury claim that could address your financial needs.
Speak With an Experienced Kentucky Personal Injury Lawyer
Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have decades of experience helping injured clients like you get the compensation they deserve. If you have questions about your accident, Kentucky law, or the compensation you may receive, we’ll have answers. Contact our office online or call us at 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532 to schedule a free, initial consultation.