Hopefully, you’ve already gotten a chance to check out our first post on car accident myths.
Myth: People who make injury claims are just looking to make some easy money.
You’ve probably seen the person who rips off their neck brace walking down the courtroom steps on TV before. Maybe you’ve even seen someone pouring water on the ground outside of a supermarket. You’ve probably even heard about the woman who made a small fortune suing McDonald’s when she was burned by coffee.
Myth: If you are really injured, you will feel it.
Some people might begin their treatments a couple of days after an accident. Sometimes it can take a couple of days for the pain to appear after an injury. Some insurance adjusters point to gaps in treatment like these and call these people fakers and opportunitists.
Some people feel pain immediately, however this is not always the case. Pain doesn’t always show up right after an injury.
We’re going talk about a few reasons why this may be the case, but first check out the video above. You’ve probably had the experience of feeling sore a day or two after exercising. We’re still learning more each and every day about just how our bodies work.
After a car accident adrenaline courses through your body. Your natural ‘flight or fight’ response can actually mask symptoms of pain. It is only as the shock wears off and the body begins to heal that many first feel the extent of their injuries. It can take a long time for the levels of inflammation to decline. This can make it difficult to resume a normal routine.
Read more about one type of “delayed” accident injury HERE
Myth: Car accident injuries are proportional to the amount of damage to the car; if your car has minor damage, your body must have minor damage.
While car accidents that happen at high speeds tend to lead to more serious injuries, you can be pretty badly banged up by a fender bender.
There are many factors that can lead to injury, and the force of the accident is just one of them.
We love this video because it’s a great half hour look at some of the science behind different types of car accidents.
We wrote more about why you need an attorney after a low-impact accident HERE
An eight mile per hour rear-end collision can produce twice the acceleration one experiences due to the normal force of gravity. That means that even at eight mph, a driver’s head will experience 5gs of acceleration. That’s enough to cause significant neck damage.
The truth is, small accidents can cause big injuries.
Myth: Injury attorneys are out for a quick buck and will work with and assist fakers in order to abuse the system.
It would be wrong to pretend that every attorney out there is a ‘good’ attorney. There’s actually a fancy word for the practice described in the myth above: barratry.
We actually wrote more about “ambulance chasing,” HERE
If you’ve ever had to deal with your insurance company, you’ve probably been accused of the three myths above. You know that adjusters question everything. Maybe you’ve even been offered a settlement that doesn’t even cover the bills.
You might be weary of attorneys because of the myths that surrounds them. Attorney searches can be overwhelming. But that’s exactly why you need to find someone who can help fight for you.
Check out our guide to Attorney Reviews HERE
A good injury attorney is one that tries to see past more accident myths than we’ve been able to write about here. A good injury attorney tries to see the problem facing their clients. A good personal injury lawyer gets into the practice to ensure their clients are able to get back on track after being injured by the reckless behavior of another. They have chosen to stand with the voiceless and to make the world a little bit safer for all of us.