Numerous misconceptions are evident in regard to personal injury cases in which someone deserves financial compensation from an insurance company. One misconception is that it’s OK to trust the insurance company to act in the person’s interests. Even if the injured individual is the policyholder, the insurer still needs to protect its own interests. That means offering an amount that could be deemed reasonable yet seems low to the individual and to a Personal Injury Lawyer in San Francisco CA. Insurance companies are faced with performing delicate balancing acts that satisfy both the customers and the business owners and investors.
Another misconception is that the injured person must delay non-emergency medical care until the settlement has been paid. This is a damaging myth as it can lead to ongoing pain and even long-lasting disability. The person’s health insurance will pay its responsibility for medical bills if requested, then will be paid back with part of the settlement money. If health insurance is lacking, many doctors and health care facilities are very willing to help a patient in this situation. In addition, the patient needs professional documentation of diagnoses, physician opinions and treatment to support the case for a higher settlement. A Personal Injury Lawyer in San Francisco CA can guide a new client toward the right actions if he or she has been avoiding getting medical care after the initial emergency service.
A third misconception is that most injury cases go to trial and plaintiffs are awarded an enormous amount of money by a jury. That actually is an unusual occurrence. A very high percentage of injury cases are settled outside of court, which is beneficial to both the plaintiff and the insurer. When cases advance to trial, attorneys have a great deal more work to do in preparation. Also, court dockets may be full for a long time to come. The legal process becomes lengthy, and the individual may not receive any compensation for several months or even years. A firm such as the Law Offices of James D. Rush works to make sure clients receive the largest amount of compensation possible in a relatively short amount of time. Click Here to learn more.