Most people are pretty relieved to find out that the at-fault driver that caused their injuries is insured. When you are already dealing with the pain of the injury, a wrecked car, missing work, and other issues and inconveniences, knowing that your damages will be covered can lessen the stress considerably. Unfortunately, it could be a big mistake to assume that everything will be taken care of by the insurance company, so read to learn more about 3 common myths when it comes to getting compensated for your injuries.

1. The other driver is a nice person and their insurance will handle the claim fairly. It's easy to make this assumption, especially when the other driver seems so contrite. You may even begin to feel a little sorry for them; after all, accidents happen. Before you say anything at all to the other driver, you should be cautioned, however. The other driver is not your friend and having any communication with them whatsoever could put your entire car accident claim at risk. If you are trying to make the at-fault driver feel better, admitting that you were even a little bit at fault is a big mistake. While it may turn out to be the case, the time for discussing whether or not you share any fault for the accident is when the settlement is negotiated or the case comes to trial. Don't allow your emotions to get the better of you; don't talk to the at-fault party at all.

2. The accident report has assigned fault in the accident, so it's not even necessary to build a case. While it's true that the accident report provides a vital piece of evidence for your case, it is only one piece and carries a lot less weight than you probably think. Did you know that accident reports are not even admissible in court? That is not to say that the information contained in the report won't help your case, however. It normally does give the responding officer's opinion of the cause of the crash and sometimes indicates whether or not a traffic citation was issued. Additionally, it contains useful contact information for all parties.

3. You failed to take action right after the accident, and now it's too late. While hiring a personal injury attorney should take place as soon as possible after the accident, it may not be too late. Certain types of evidence is easier to gather if done quickly, but the statute of limitations extends for anything from 1-7 years, depending on where you live. It is actually quite common for some injuries to increase in severity as time goes on. The trauma of the accident could make it difficult for you to notice injuries like back pain that is not going away, tingling and numbness from nerve damage, or cognitive problems caused by a brain injury.

Don't allow any of these common myths to prevent you from getting the compensation you need and deserve; contact a personal injury attorney today.

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