As a car accident lawyer in Memphis, I know some people are concerned about who will find out if they sue over a car accident.

If you’re injured in a car accident and you file a claim, could it come back to hurt you?

There are a few things to keep in mind:

 

    1. It isn’t always a lawsuit – When you file a personal injury claim, that doesn’t make it a lawsuit. Often the case can settle outside of court, so it never even becomes a lawsuit in the first place. Those settlements aren’t public record.
    2. When you pursue a claim, you’re pursuing it against an insurance company. Typically the other driver’s insurance company simply doesn’t want to pay, or doesn’t want to pay as much as you and your car accident attorney believe is owed to you. This isn’t a personal matter – it’s business.
    3. If your case does lead to a lawsuit, it will be in public record. But that doesn’t mean much. It won’t show up on criminal checks and isn’t easily accessible – someone would have to look carefully to find it.

 

So while it’s possible someone would find out about the claim if it becomes a full lawsuit, it’s unlikely; and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about anyway.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the most important thing to do is get medical attention and then legal help. Filing a claim is how the system works. It’s exactly what the insurance companies expect, and it’s often the only way to pay for your medical care and other damages.

Contact our Memphis car accident law firm today to get started. The conversation is free.