If you were in a car accident recently, you may have heard some things about car accident claims that are not true. We don’t want you to get bad information, so below are some of the most common car crash myths. Always talk to a Portland Oregon personal injury attorney right away after an accident to have the best chance to get compensation.
First, many people think that car accident laws are the same in all states. This isn’t the case! From figuring out when you need to file your claim to who can get compensation when blame is shared, much depends on the state in which the accident happens.
For example, in Oregon, all drivers must carry some amount of PIP or Personal Injury Protection Insurance. This coverage will pay for the first few thousand dollars of losses in a car accident, regardless of whether you were at fault or not.
PIP simplifies many car accident claims by having your policy pay for your damages if it’s a small accident. However, if you have more damages, you can still file a lawsuit or claim against the other driver.
Also, you can still get some compensation in Oregon if you are partially at fault for the accident. But if you are more than 50% responsible for the accident, you cannot get compensation.
This is very different from a few states, such as Virginia. There, if you are even 1% at fault, you cannot get compensation in an accident. Talk to your Portland Oregon personal injury attorney to learn what the laws are for this state if you want to file a claim.
Second, you may have heard you should just let the insurance companies chat and figure it out, you don’t need an attorney. But remember, even your insurance company is driven by a profit motive, so they may not get you the best settlement possible if you don’t have a Portland Oregon personal injury attorney.
Your own insurance company may try to pay you less to save money, and they even may try to deny your claim. But if you have a good attorney in your corner, you can avoid a lot of these issues.
Third, don’t let anyone tell you that it doesn’t matter who handles your case as an attorney. You should always have a good attorney in your corner with a lot of experience in car accident cases. If the attorney you hire usually works on medical malpractice, they may not know all of the laws involved in car accident claims. Always look for an attorney who knows the ins and outs of car crash claims.
Fourth, it’s also common for people to say it’s rarely worth the money to hire an attorney for a car accident claim unless there are really serious injuries.
In reality, it is often helpful to hire an attorney for many car accident cases. The only time you should probably not do it is if there are only very minor or no injuries. The fact is, your attorney will review the case for free and determine if there is a good chance of a settlement. They won’t take your case if it’s not financially worthwhile.
It is also best to have a lawyer look at any accident case where there are significant injuries and property damages. It’s possible it could be worth more than you think!
Now that you know the most common car accident myths, you understand more about how to handle a potential car accident case. You also should talk to a Portland Oregon personal injury attorney as soon as you can for a free consultation.
