If you've been hurt in an accident that was not your fault, there is a good chance that you may be entitled to monetary compensation in a wide range of categories. However, there are misconceptions about personal injury attorneys that you should be aware of. The following are a few of these misconceptions. 

You cannot afford a personal injury attorney

Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that the fees you pay them will come from a settlement or court judgment. You will not be charged any money until the case is over, but only if your attorney wins the case. It is for this reason that people without financial resources can afford to hire legal representation to fight against insurance companies, as well as large businesses and other institutions.

They don't offer free consultations

Because they work on a contingency basis, they will listen to your story and determine how strong a case you have. They will charge you nothing for this, so you simply pick up the phone and call to set up an appointment for a free consultation. If you have a case, they will let you know how strong the case is. You can then decide whether to hire them.

You will likely get more compensation without an attorney than with one

Because personal injury attorneys take a percentage of your settlement, you may be under the mistaken impression that you'll get more money without one. This is a classic argument made by insurance companies. But with an attorney, you're likely to get a greater settlement because they understand the law and what you're entitled to. An insurance company will take advantage of your legal ignorance, offering you less, while claiming you're getting a great deal without an attorney.

Personal injury attorneys are only for vehicle accidents

This is simply not true. Personal injury attorneys handle cases in which you are hurt due to another's negligence. This includes traffic accidents, slips and falls on a business's property, and injuries on residential property, including dog bites. Injuries in convalescent homes or hospitals are covered by this legal practice too. In some situations, a loved one may have died. Wrongful death is also handled by the same type of lawyer.

If you have been injured due to no fault of your own, you do not need financial resources to hire a personal injury lawyer because they will work for you on a contingency basis. They offer free consultations, and if you hire one, they are likely to get you more compensation than you would get without one. In addition, personal injury lawyers are not just for vehicle accidents but cover a wide range of categories in which you are hurt due to somebody else's actions.

Contact a local personal injury lawyer to learn more.