Debunking Common Myths Surrounding Personal Injury Lawyers

The bigger portion of the world’s population will live out their lives without ever needing to hire a personal injury lawyer, and that is quite the relieving statistic to read. Unfortunately, there are also quite a few who will become involved in an accident and need to file a claim in order to relieve themselves of financial pressure stemming from medical bills and lost income.

Should you ever be one of those people in need of legal counsel, we don’t want you to feel afraid or go by the myths and misconceptions you’ve been told from second- and third-hand sources. So in order to clear the air, we have taken a few of the most common myths and shed some light on how far removed they are from reality.

“Personal injury lawyers are greedy and only after your money!”

The majority of personal injury lawyers actually work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they win your case. And if they lose, they are left with nothing. The height of the fee they could receive at the end is based on a previously agree upon percentage, which has been set in stone via a contingency fee retainer agreement. That way, clients cannot be blindsided by sudden extra fees or costs.

“That guy got half a million dollars out of his case, so why can’t I get the same?”

Your personal injury lawyer in Waterloo will likely be able to give you a rough estimate of the settlement amount you may be awarded, but that estimate will be based on a list of reasonable factors, such as your income, your age, the severity of your injury, the length of your recovery, and potential lasting symptoms, among others. Just because you and some other person were both injured in a car accident, doesn’t mean that your two cases are in any way comparable.

You should also withhold from accusing your lawyer of “trying to cheat you out of a higher settlement” or anything like that, especially if you hired them on a contingency basis. Because remember, a contingency fee is only paid out if the case is won. Thus, your lawyer has every reason to strive for the highest possible settlement, just like you.

“Lawyers don’t see us as human beings!”

That is absolutely false. Lawyers tend to work with people who are in desperate times and have recently experienced great loss. They are experienced in understanding all aspects of the injury claim and help you at every step so that you can recover without the stress. This ensures that they represent your rights and help you win the compensation.