How An Ohio Accident Lawyer Can Help You
An Ohio car accident lawyer can help make sense of what happened during a traffic collision. They know how to gather documentation about the incident, including witness statements, police reports, medical records, and photographs.
This information helps your attorney determine whether there are grounds for filing a claim against the other party involved in the crash. If necessary, they can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
An Ohio auto accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and will work to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Top Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents are, unfortunately, a common occurrence on Ohio roadways. By August 2022, the Ohio State Highway Patrol had investigated nearly 32,000 crashes. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, it’s important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. An experienced Ohio accident lawyer can help You compensate for your losses. Here are a few examples of what a personal injury attorney can do for you:
Help You Obtain Medical Care
If you’ve suffered physical injuries due to another person’s negligence, your doctor might refer you to a specialist. For example, if you’ve been hurt in a car crash, your doctor may recommend that you see a neurologist.
You’ll likely receive treatment related to your injuries, such as medications, therapy, surgery, or rehabilitation. A personal injury lawyer can make sure that you receive proper medical attention.
Protect Your Future
Personal injury attorneys can help protect your financial future. They can assist you in filing claims against third-party tortfeasors, including employers, landlords, and businesses.
They can also help you prepare for a civil trial, which could lead to punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded to punish negligent parties for causing harm.
Help You Complete Legal Forms Related to Your Auto Accident
A car accident lawyer helps you fill out forms related to filing a lawsuit against an insurance provider or other party responsible for injuring you, such as a negligent driver. They will work closely with you to determine what happened and how you could have avoided it.
Assist You In Reviewing Evidence and Filing Your Claim
The next step involves gathering evidence of the incident, including photos and video footage. After reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the crash, a car accident lawyer drafts a complaint letter and sends it to the defendant.
Negotiate Settlements and Recover Financial Compensation
If a claim is filed successfully, your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance carrier or other liable party to reach a settlement agreement.
These negotiations often take place during mediation sessions. This helps reduce animosity and increase the chances of reaching a fair agreement.
A qualified personal injury attorney specializes in recovering maximum compensation for car-accident-related injuries. Your lawyer knows how insurance companies work and the types of claims they typically pay out.
Take Your Automobile Accident Claim to Trial If Necessary
If negotiations fail, your case will go to trial. During the trial, you must prove your case to win compensatory damages.
After the trial, your lawyer will also provide advice about pursuing further claims, such as medical bills and lost wages. In some cases, the client may receive additional payments for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Can Also Help You Avoid Mistakes
A car accident lawyer can help guide you through the process of recovering compensation for injuries sustained in a crash. They’ll also make sure you don’t make costly mistakes along the way. Here are some things you avoid while dealing with a personal injury claim:
- Don’t lie about what happened during an investigation: Avoid telling investigators anything that isn’t true. If you’re injured, it doesn’t matter how minor the damage appears. Your insurance company needs proof that you weren’t driving recklessly. Lying could cost you thousands of dollars.
- Don’t forget to file your claim with your insurance carrier immediately: Your insurance company will likely try to settle your claim quickly. But if you wait too long, your policy might lapse. Make sure you file your claim within 30 days of receiving notice of the collision.
- Don’t wait too long before filing for medical treatment: If you’ve been in pain following a car accident, seek medical treatment immediately. Waiting too long could mean missing out on important benefits like wage replacement and lifetime health care coverage.
Get a FREE Case Review by Calling The Hammer Now.
Preserving Evidence After an Auto Accident
One of the most important things you can do after a car accident is to preserve evidence. This includes taking pictures of the scene and documenting all facts about the accident. Use your smartphone to record video of the accident, documenting the location where the vehicle stopped, the position of the vehicles involved, and the damage to both vehicles.
If you witness another driver committing an unsafe act, such as speeding, swerving, running off the road, or failing to yield, note down everything you see and call 911. Also, contact the police department or local traffic safety office to report the incident.
Filing a Motor-Vehicle Accident Claim On Your Own Can Be Challenging
Auto accident personal injury cases are typically complex and involve many legal issues. They are also highly technical and require specialized skills. Many people decide to represent themselves because they believe it is cheaper; however, doing so on your own can be difficult.
For example, you may not know what questions to ask, how much evidence to gather, and where to find experts.
When you hire an attorney, you’ll have someone to help you navigate the system, answer questions, and represent your interests. They will do all the work for you.
Legal Procedures and Timelines Are More Complex Than You Might Realize
When it comes to legal claims, there are things that you might not know about how the law works. This includes deadlines, court fees, and even what happens if you miss a deadline. If you’re facing a legal issue, here are some things you should understand about the process.
Deadlines
When dealing with a legal matter, most people fail to consider deadlines. These dates are set up to ensure that certain actions happen within a specific time.
For example, if you want to file a personal injury lawsuit against someone, you must do so within two years, according to Ohio law. Therefore, if you wait too long, your case could become invalid.
In addition, there are penalties for missing deadlines, including fines and possible jail time. Some states require that you pay a fee if you miss a deadline, while others allow you to request a waiver.
Court Fees
Another important aspect of legal proceedings is the associated costs. Court costs include filing fees, witness fees, and attorney fees. Filing fees are usually paid at the beginning of a proceeding; however, witness fees are paid whenever witnesses are called to testify.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
In addition to filing a personal injury lawsuit, you may also choose to pursue a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims are filed on behalf of someone’s family members who died because of the negligence of others.
These cases are often more complex than personal injury lawsuits which is why you should hire a car crash lawyer to help you navigate the legal system. Your attorney will represent you throughout the process and negotiate settlements with the relevant insurance companies.
Insurance Companies Tend to Negotiate Differently When an Attorney’s Involved
When negotiating insurance claims, insurance companies are different from each other. Some will offer you a settlement, while others won’t budge unless you accept their final offer. This is because insurance companies want to avoid litigation costs, and settlements are cheaper than trials.
If you’re dealing with an inexperienced insurance adjuster, they will try to make a quick buck by offering you a lowball settlement. You’ll end up being paid less money than what you deserve.
On the other hand, if you hire an experienced car accident lawyer, you can rest assured that they will fight for your best interest. They know how to negotiate effectively and will use their experiences and knowledge to help you reach a fair resolution.
Hire an Ohio Car Accident Lawyer to Fight an Insurance Company Claim Denial
Insurance companies often deny auto insurance claims without properly investigating the crash’s circumstances. This makes it difficult for victims to receive compensation for injuries sustained during a collision.
If you believe an insurance company is denying your claim unfairly, consider hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent you. An attorney can help you understand how to proceed with your case and what steps to take next.
A car accident attorney can help determine whether there are grounds for suing your insurer. For example, if the driver responsible for causing your wreck had been drinking alcohol before the collision, they could potentially face criminal charges.
However, even if no one else was involved in the crash, an investigation into the cause of the accident might reveal evidence of negligence by other parties. In such cases, a car accident attorney can help ensure that the facts are presented correctly in court.
If you decide to sue your insurer, you must do so within the statute of limitations period. As we’ve said, you have three years to file a complaint in Ohio. Consult with a car accident attorney to find out how much time you have to file a suit. They will review your case and advise you about whether you have a valid legal argument.
The Insurance Company Has a Lawyer. Shouldn’t You?
Insurance companies are notorious for taking advantage of consumers. They often use tactics like delaying payments and denying claims to maximize profits. If you’re dealing with one of these shady companies, it’s important to know how to protect yourself.
One way to do that is by hiring a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal system and work out a settlement deal on your behalf.
Get a FREE Case Review by Calling The Hammer Now.
By Hiring a Lawyer, You Shift the Financial Risk to Someone Else
When hiring our firm, you shift some of the financial risks to someone who specializes in recovering money for people like you. Your lawyer advances the costs associated with our investigation, including the cost of filing the lawsuit. We work on a contingency fee basis; therefore, if we succeed, you pay us no fee. If we fail, you owe us nothing.
We take care of everything—from finding witnesses to preparing discovery requests. All you do is decide whether to pursue your claim.
How We Investigate Car Accident Cases
Our team investigates many kinds of accidents, including those caused due to drunk driving, speeding, faulty products, and other factors such as distracted driving. When investigating car accidents, we work to find out what happened prior to, during, and after a collision.
We also consult with expert witnesses, examine physical evidence, and review video footage. We are committed to discovering why crashes happen and how to prevent future ones. This includes looking at the vehicle, driver behavior, road conditions, weather, and traffic patterns.
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