Unsolicited Advice, Dirty Diapers, and Car Wrecks: Why Everyone Thinks They’re an Expert (and Most Are Wrong)

By Ben Westbrook | Westbrook Law | The Tarrant County Titan of Torts
Proudly representing injury victims in Fort Worth, Benbrook, and all of Tarrant County

If you’ve ever had a baby, you already know: the minute that baby arrives, the advice starts rolling in—fast, loud, and usually wrong.

Let them cry it out. Never let them cry it out.
Put cereal in the bottle. Never put cereal in the bottle.
Swaddle them. Don’t swaddle them.
Use whiskey for teething. Wait… what?

It’s amazing how confident people are in their opinions—especially when they haven’t held a baby in twenty years.

Turns out, the same thing happens when you’ve been in a car wreck.
Suddenly, everyone you know becomes a legal expert.

“You should’ve already settled.”
“That wreck should be worth at least what mine was.”
“You were partially at fault? Forget it.”
“Just let the insurance handle everything.”
“Don’t file a claim—they’ll raise your rates.”

Here’s the truth: bad advice can wreck your case faster than a rear-end collision.
So let’s clear up some of the worst offenders—and explain what actually matters under Texas law.

1. “It should’ve settled by now.”

Everyone thinks they know how long a personal injury case should take—especially if they’ve never been through one.

The truth? There is no one-size-fits-all timeline.

A minor fender bender with no injuries might settle in a few weeks.
But if you’re dealing with ongoing treatment, contested liability, or an uncooperative insurance company? It can take months—or longer.

We don’t let cases drag unnecessarily. But we also don’t rush a settlement before we know the full value of your injuries.
Because once you settle, that’s it. No do-overs.

2. “My wreck settled for this amount of money, so yours should too.”

Comparing your case to someone else’s is like saying all babies crawl at the same age.

No two cases are the same:

• Different injuries

• Different treatment

• Different drivers

• Different insurance policies

• Different counties, juries, and adjusters

Just because your cousin got $20,000 for a soft-tissue injury doesn’t mean you will.
And just because someone else got lowballed doesn’t mean you should.

Your case is unique. Your compensation should be too.

3. “If you were even a little at fault, you can’t recover anything.”

Not true.
Texas follows modified comparative fault, which means you can still recover damages as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault. (You can read more about Comparative Fault HERE)

So if the other driver was 80% at fault and you were 20%, you can still recover 80% of your damages.

Adjusters love to exaggerate fault to get you to back down.
Don’t fall for it. Let a trial lawyer assess the real liability.

4. “The insurance company will take care of you.”

Only if “take care of you” means spend the least amount of money possible.

Insurance adjusters are trained to:

• Sound friendly

• Ask leading questions

• Record your statement

• And ultimately, pay you as little as they can get away with

They’re not your friend.
They’re not neutral.
And they are definitely not obligated to protect your best interests.

That’s what we’re here for.

5. “You shouldn’t file a claim with your own insurance—your rates will go up.”

If the accident wasn’t your fault, filing a claim with your own insurance (like PIP, MedPay, or UM/UIM) typically won’t raise your rates.

In fact, that coverage is there to help you:

• Pay medical bills

• Cover lost wages

• Step in when the other driver doesn’t have enough (or any) insurance

Failing to use your own policy—that you’ve been paying for—is like skipping your child’s doctor visit because someone told you co-pays were a scam.

Don’t let bad advice cost you money you’re entitled to.

6. “Just take the first offer—it’s better than nothing.”

The first offer is almost always the worst.

It’s designed to:

• Close the claim quickly

• Lock you into a low payout

• And eliminate their risk of future liability

If you haven’t finished treatment or haven’t had your case evaluated by a lawyer, you have no idea what your case is actually worth.

Taking that first offer might feel like progress—but it’s often a major mistake.

7. “You don’t need a lawyer unless it’s a big case.”

That’s exactly what the insurance company hopes you’ll believe.

Because without a lawyer:

• You don’t know what deadlines matter

• You may miss critical documentation

• You’re negotiating with professionals without backup

• You’re vulnerable to pressure, bad math, and worse contracts

Injury law isn’t just about million-dollar cases.
It’s about making sure regular people don’t get run over by a billion-dollar industry.

Let’s Set the Record Straight

At Westbrook Law, we’ve handled hundreds of cases across Fort Worth, Benbrook, and Tarrant County.
We’ve heard all the bad advice, seen the consequences, and helped people get back on track.

So if you’ve been in a wreck and you’re hearing advice from:

• Your buddy who “settled quick”

• A coworker’s aunt who “knows someone”

• Or an adjuster who “just needs a signature”

…hit pause, and call us instead.

We’ll walk you through what actually matters.
No pressure. No gimmicks. Just real help from a trial lawyer who’s heard it all—and fights back harder.

📍 Westbrook Law | 8507 Benbrook Blvd, Benbrook, TX 76126
📞 (817) 489-5499
🌐 Book a FREE Consult