What Are The Top Misconceptions People Have Regarding Auto Accidents?

MISCONCEPTION #1: You do not need to pull over, exchange information or file a police report if you are involved in a minor accident. 

The truth is that failing to pull over or file a police report could actually get you into a considerable amount of legal trouble. Under South Carolina law, you are required to pull over your vehicle at the scene of an accident – even if the accident does not result in any injuries and even if the damage appears to be minimal. Failure to do so could result in a misdemeanor charge.

MISCONCEPTION #2: Minor accidents do not cause serious injuries.

Medical care should always be sought after a car accident. This is because seemingly minor injuries such as soreness, bruising or swelling could be indicative of a more serious condition that threatens your overall health and possibly could result in serious financial costs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medical costs associated with car accident injuries can run into tens of thousands of dollars, and these costs may continue to accrue for as long as 18 months after your accident.

MISCONCEPTION #3: Claiming whiplash or back injuries is simply a way of trying to get money from the insurance company. 

Nothing could be further from the truth. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is a neck injury that occurs as the result of sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck.

Whiplash is common in car accidents and is nothing to take lightly as it could result in neck sprains as well as potentially serious head injuries.

Back pain and injuries are also common in the aftermath of car crashes. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), back pain may be indicative of strained muscles or problems with the disks that make up the spine.

These injuries require proper medical care, may take months to recover from and can result in lingering and even permanent disability.

MISCONCEPTION #4: You cannot file a claim against another driver if you were even partly at fault for the accident.

If you have been injured in a car crash or collision, you may still be able to recover compensation even if you feel you were partly to blame for the accident.

Under South Carolina law, you may be entitled to obtain damages related to your injury through a car accident lawsuit as long as the other responsible parties are more than 50 percent at fault for the accident.

MYTH #5: The settlement offer that your insurance company makes is the maximum amount your claim is worth.

While many people think the insurance company is on their side when it comes to settling car accident claims, the opposite is actually true.

Insurance companies are in the business to make money. One of the easiest ways to do this is by undervaluing or denying car accident claims. For example, an insurance company claims representative may diminish the true value of replacing your vehicle as well as the ongoing costs that may be associated with your injuries.

MISCONCEPTION #6: It will be too expensive to hire a lawyer to represent you in a car accident claim.

Thinking that you cannot afford a lawyer to represent you in a car accident lawsuit or insurance claim is possibly one of the biggest misconceptions people have.

Our Charleston auto accident lawyers offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case. If you choose our personal injury law firm to represent you, you pay nothing for our services unless we recover money for you. In fact, our legal fees are generally calculated into the amount sought in damages.

For more information on Misconceptions About Auto Accidents, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (843) 856-2222 today.