Personal Injury Law Knowledge 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You will have to pay your medical bills out of your own pocket if you don't have health insurance and are hurt in a car accident.
- True
- False (Correct answer)
- Maybe
Correct answer: False
This statement is false because even without health insurance, other avenues for covering medical bills after a car accident exist. For instance, the at-fault driver's liability insurance, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage could potentially cover these expenses.
Question 2: If you slip and fall at work, your health insurance will cover your medical expenses.
- True
- False (Correct answer)
- Maybe
Correct answer: False
If you slip and fall at work, your medical expenses are typically covered by workers' compensation insurance, not your personal health insurance. Workers' compensation is specifically designed to provide benefits for employees injured on the job, including medical care and lost wages.
Question 3: If you are largely to blame for the accident that damaged you, you cannot receive compensation.
- True
- False
- Maybe (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Maybe
Whether you can receive compensation when largely to blame depends on the specific state laws governing comparative or contributory negligence. Some states use pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery even if 99% at fault, while others use modified comparative negligence (e.g., 50% or 51% bar rule) or pure contributory negligence (barring recovery if any fault). Therefore, the outcome is not absolute and varies by jurisdiction.
Question 4: You cannot receive compensation for your injuries if you were hurt in a car accident and the at-fault motorist fled the scene because you do not know the driver's insurance provider.
- True
- False (Correct answer)
- Maybe
Correct answer: False
This statement is false because you can still receive compensation through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if the at-fault driver flees the scene and cannot be identified. UM coverage is specifically designed to protect you in hit-and-run situations or when the other driver is uninsured.
Question 5: You have 20 months after being hurt in an accident to file a claim against the individual who caused the accident.
- True
- False (Correct answer)
- Maybe
Correct answer: False
The time limit for filing a personal injury claim, known as the statute of limitations, varies significantly by state and type of claim, but 20 months is not a universal or common period. Many states have a two-year or three-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but it can be shorter or longer depending on the jurisdiction and specific circumstances.
Question 6: Most sports are dangerous for athletes who lack a kidney to participate in.
- True
- False (Correct answer)
- Maybe
Correct answer: False
This statement is false. While contact sports carry some risk for individuals with only one kidney, many sports are generally safe. Participation should be discussed with a doctor, but a blanket statement that *most* sports are dangerous is an overgeneralization and not medically accurate.
Personal Injury Law Knowledge 1
You will have to pay your medical bills out of your own pocket if you don't have health insurance and are hurt in a car accident.