There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding car accidents and personal injuries resulting from collisions. Unfortunately, some of these myths can cause victims to lose money that they should have coming to them through compensatory damages. Here are some common myths dispelled by your injury attorney Visalia professional.
Myth #1: The responsible party has to pay off my vehicle if it’s totaled.
According to the law, the responsible party in an auto accident isn’t required to pay for all of the damages to your vehicle in every case. If the damages to your vehicle are greater than what the vehicle is worth, the responsible party is only required to pay up to the fair market value of the vehicle at the time of the accident. In some cases, this may not even be enough to pay off your vehicle if you are still making payments on it.
Myth #2: If I get hurt in an auto accident, I deserve to be compensated.
Auto accidents occur every day. Some of them are the result of someone’s negligence while others are simply nothing more than accidents. In the latter instance, you aren’t necessarily entitled to any compensation. Just because a couple drivers are involved in an auto accident doesn’t mean they should get reimbursed for their injuries from the other driver’s insurance company. However, if you have insurance, you may be able to recoup some of your costs. Your injury attorney Visalia professional can help determine if you are eligible for compensation following a car accident.
Myth #3: The other driver’s insurance company will pay for my rental car.
In most cases, the responsible party is not required to pay for a rental car that you can use while your vehicle is being repaired. Some insurance companies will pay for a rental just to be nice, but this isn’t always the case and it’s the exception rather than the rule. When an insurance company does pay for a rental vehicle, it is usually only for a couple of days until you get an estimate on the damages to your vehicle.
Myth #4: The responsible party will have to pay for my lost wages.
When you’re involved in an accident, you are required to mitigate your damages. This means that you have to keep your expenses to a minimum. As a result, you should go to work every day following the accident if you are able to. If you can’t go to work, you’ll need a doctor’s note. You can’t just expect to take several weeks off of work and have the responsible party pay for lost wages. You have to take the initiative to keep your damages to a minimum.
