True or False: Signing a retainer agreement with a personal injury law firm requires paying upfront legal fees or out-of-pocket retainer deposits.
False. At Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys, all retainer agreements operate strictly on a contingency fee basis. You pay zero upfront retainers, hourly fees, or out-of-pocket costs. Our firm advances 100% of the investigative and litigation expenses, and we only collect a fee if we secure a financial recovery for you.
Myth vs. Fact: If the at-fault driver lies to their insurance company and claims you caused the crash, the insurance company's decision is final and you cannot recover damages.
Myth. An insurance adjuster’s liability denial based on their policyholder’s false statements is merely an initial negotiation posture, not a legal verdict. We bypass their statements by subpoenaing vehicle black box data, traffic signal logs, and nearby commercial surveillance video to establish the objective truth and hold the negligent driver accountable.
True or False: Commercial delivery drivers (Amazon, UPS, FedEx) are the only parties legally responsible when they cause an accident.
False. Under corporate agency and vicarious liability doctrines, the commercial parent company is civilly liable for crashes caused by its drivers while on duty. Furthermore, we pursue corporate entities for negligent hiring, improper vehicle maintenance, and enforcing dangerous delivery quotas.
Myth vs. Fact: If you can walk away from a car crash feeling mostly fine, you do not need to seek an immediate medical evaluation.
Myth. High-impact collisions trigger a massive release of adrenaline that masks severe spinal disc herniations, nerve root compression, and internal soft-tissue tears for days. Delaying medical care creates a “treatment gap” that insurance adjusters actively use to argue your injuries were minor or unrelated to the collision. Immediate diagnostic imaging protects both your health and your legal rights.
True or False: If a car hydroplanes on wet roads or during heavy rain and strikes your vehicle, the driver is not legally at fault because weather is considered an "Act of God."
False. In states across the country, drivers have an affirmative statutory duty to maintain a safe speed and operate with reasonable care based on current road and weather conditions. Rain, wet pavement, and hydroplaning are not excuses for causing a crash. If a driver loses control because they were traveling too fast for slick conditions or driving on balding, unsafe tires, they are legally negligent and fully liable for resulting injuries and property damage.
Myth vs. Fact: You must repair your damaged vehicle at the body shop recommended by the insurance company.
Myth. Under state insurance consumer protection laws (such as California Insurance Code § 758.5 and Texas Insurance Code § 1952.301), insurance adjusters cannot legally force you to use their preferred “direct repair” facility. You have the absolute legal right to choose any licensed collision center you trust to ensure your vehicle is repaired using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
True or False: If your car is undrivable after an accident and you do not have rental car coverage, you must pay for your own transportation to medical appointments.
False. At Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys, we eliminate transportation barriers by coordinating and assisting with Uber and Lyft travel directly for our clients. We ensure you have reliable transportation to and from all diagnostic imaging visits, specialist appointments, and physical therapy sessions so your treatment remains continuous.
Myth vs. Fact: If a law firm drops your case, it means you have no legal claim and cannot recover financial compensation.
Myth. High-volume “settlement mill” firms frequently drop cases simply because the insurance carrier refuses to offer a quick check, or because proving liability requires expensive accident reconstruction and court litigation that the firm is unwilling to fund. Having a case dropped simply means you need a real trial firm with the resources and courtroom trial experience to hold the insurance company accountable.