It Won’t Happen to Me: Road Traffic Accidents
Road Traffic Accidents
Posted on: June 14th, 2021
The Psychology Behind Optimism Bias
Around 80 percent of people, across all age groups and genders, suffer from what social psychologists call optimism bias. It’s that enduring, against-all-odds belief that things are going to work out and it’s a nice feeling. Unfortunately, it can also lead us to take unnecessary risks or think in a more blasé’ way about everyday situations (like driving and how accidents can badly affect someone).
Seemingly unbiased decisions we make every day are actually influenced by the fact that we think positively about the future. Do you, like 90 percent of people, believe yourself to be a better-than-average driver and accidents happen to other people and not you?
This is the belief that may underpin a subconscious view held by some that it is wrong to claim compensation for an accident that wasn’t your fault… Until it affects you!
The painful reality of someone causing a road traffic accident in which you are injured, sometimes badly and in a way that can have long-lasting effects is a sharp reminder that it can happen to us all.
If tomorrow, you had an accident that wasn’t your fault, you ended up with pain, broken bones or even worse, maybe had a significant amount of time off work as a result… don’t you think you would expect to be compensated?? This is the kind of scenario that faces our clients every week.
Some clients even admit that they previously used to be dismissive of others who made personal injury claims until they were badly affected by an accident
Charles Atha of Atha & Co Solicitors says:
"Here at Atha & Co, we believe our clients have every right to compensation when they have been negatively affected after an accident. The financial settlement, the support we give and the necessary medical help we facilitate all go some way to rebuilding shattered lives of ordinary people like you and I that were simply going about their day to day business. It is really satisfying knowing that we have helped make a positive difference to people”