When people are hurt in a crash, the legal questions start piling up faster than the paperwork. And somewhere in that swirl of confusion, a few persistent myths tend to lodge themselves like gravel in a tire.
Read more about five of the most common misconceptions and why they shouldn’t stop anyone from protecting their rights:
1. “I didn’t have insurance, so I can’t make a claim.”
While having insurance is strongly recommended, not having your own policy is not an automatic barrier. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may still have access to compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurer or other available coverage paths. The law focuses on responsibility for the crash, not whether you paid your last premium.
2. “My vehicle registration wasn’t up to date, so I’m out of luck.”
An expired registration can lead to its own headaches, but it doesn’t erase your right to pursue an injury claim. Fault for the collision is determined by what happened on the road, not what was (or wasn’t) in your glovebox. Your claim is about your injuries and the other driver’s negligence, not administrative paperwork.
3. “I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, so I can’t recover anything.”
Seatbelts save lives, and you should absolutely wear one, but failing to buckle up doesn’t bar you from making a claim. Depending on the laws in your province, it can reduce the amount you can recover, but it does not eliminate your right to seek compensation. The key question is still: who caused the accident?
4. “If the police didn’t charge the other driver, I don’t have a case.”
Criminal or traffic charges are separate from civil claims. Police decisions are often based on limited information gathered at the scene. A lack of charges does not mean a lack of negligence.
5. “If I didn’t feel pain at the scene, I don’t have a claim.”
Adrenaline is a persuasive storyteller. Many injuries such as soft-tissue injuries, concussions, psychological trauma, can take hours or days to surface. The absence of immediate pain doesn’t mean you weren’t hurt, and it certainly doesn’t prevent you from pursuing a claim once symptoms emerge.
Protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. Don’t let these common myths stand in your way.
Correia & Collins represents motor vehicle accident victims. Contact us by phone at 506-648-1700 or online for advice. Your first consultation is free.
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Since 2016, I’ve had the privilege of working for Correia & Collins. First as a student, then as an articled clerk, and now as a lawyer. I have found great pride in problem-solving for clients and guiding them through complex legal problems to achieve the best possible outcomes. Through this experience, I know the importance of having an effective lawyer.