You probably don’t have a lot of experience filing for injury compensation after a car accident in Minnesota, and because of this lack of experience, you may lean on some preconceived notions or second-hand advice you’ve heard about the system. In our experience, this type of information isn’t always reliable, and if you lean on bad advice, it’ll be next to impossible to maximize your award. In today’s blog, we’re going to work to dispel some myths about the injury claim process after a Minnesota car accident.
Dispelling Myths About Car Accident Compensation
Let’s explore some common pieces of advice and explain why they are rooted in myths or falsehoods.
1. I Can’t Afford A Car Accident Lawyer– Many types of lawyers are quite expensive. Criminal defense lawyers or family law attorneys charge hundreds of dollars an hour for their services, so you may assume that the same holds true about a car accident lawyer and that you can’t afford one after an accident, especially if that accident renders you without a vehicle or unable to work. Fortunately, injury lawyers bill a bit differently. Our firm works on a contingent basis, meaning you only pay when you win an award. We take a small percentage of any winnings we receive for our client as payment for our services, meaning you’re never going to owe more than you earn. Moreover, this means we have a vested interest in getting you the most money possible, because we get more money when we earn more for our clients.
2. You Can’t Claim Injury Compensation If You Are At Fault – Minnesota is a No Fault state, meaning you’ll be able to seek compensation even if nobody else is to blame for your accident. If you’re seeking compensation from another driver after meeting the maximum thresholds from your Personal Injury Protection arm of your car insurance policy, you can still go after the other driver in court even if you were at fault, but you can’t hold the majority of the blame. If you are assigned more than 50 percent of the fault rating, you won’t be able to collect from the other driver’s insurance company.
3. You Don’t Need A Lawyer – If you want to earn a settlement and put an end to your case, you can accept the first offer from the insurance company without a lawyer. However, if you want to maximize your award, you’ll need a lawyer by your side. As statistics show and we’ve seen firsthand, oftentimes a lawyer can get their client more than they would have taken home on their own, even when lawyer fees are factored into the equation. You may be able to get $50,000 on your own, but you’ll have no complaints about paying 20% of your settlement to a lawyer if they can get you $100,000. Know that you need a lawyer on your team if you want to maximize your award.
4. Always Be Open And Honest With Insurance – Let’s be clear, we’re not saying you should lie. Lying can quickly tank your claim, but we always tell clients to remember who is truly on their side. The insurance agent may sound sympathetic, but remember that their goal is not to get you the biggest payday possible, it’s to limit their liability and payout. They want to put an end to your case as quickly and cheaply as possible. Don’t make that easier by trusting them fully or by oversharing when you’re on the phone. Be concise, tell the truth and don’t give them a reason to doubt your story or twist the narrative. Always remember where their loyalty lies.
5. You’re Out Of Luck If The Other Driver Is Uninsured Or Flees– It’s not uncommon for the other driver to flee the scene of an accident or try to pay you off at the scene because they don’t have insurance. Minnesota has safeguards in place for these situations, as you will file with your own automobile insurance provider through your policy’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Know that you’re not out of options because the other driver flees or doesn’t have insurance.
Let Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm straighten out the facts and get you the compensation you deserve after a Minnesota car accident. For more information, or for help with your claim, give our office a call today at (952) 230-2700.
