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Auto accidents are a rather common occurrence throughout the United States and the state of Ohio isn’t an exception. Just about anybody can be the victim of an auto accident, even those that don’t either drive or own vehicles themselves. If you are riding in a vehicle, there’s always the possibility of coming across a reckless road user and be involved in an accident.
If you have sustained injuries after being involved in an accident or care for a person involved in one, you might be wondering about the professional or financial implications is likely to cause you or the person involved in the accident. It can be a particularly overwhelming notion considering that the encounter has left you emotionally shaken.
Fortunately, it is possible to have some peace of mind knowing that there are professionals waiting for you to lend a hand and sort out all your legal affairs so that you can focus more on your recovery and healing. If you have been injured in an auto accident, you should turn to the law offices of Young, Reverman, and Mazzei. Contact us today for your free consultation and to learn more about the possibilities open to you regarding your accident.
Our team of experienced auto accident lawyers have handled different types of auto accident claims and have the resources and skills needed to fight for you. Our passion is to help out car accident victims get the compensation they need and are rightfully entitled to and we will do whatever is needed to ensure that the party or parties responsible for your injuries make appropriate restitution.
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Is It Advisable to Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer Immediately After Your Accident?
It is important to understand that there’s a statute of limitations when it comes to seeking compensation for the damages and injuries sustained in a car accident. The statute of limitations is a deadline within which victims can seek compensation for their injuries. In Ohio, it is set 2 years from the accident date.
If you would like to seek compensation for your injuries and damages after being in a car accident, you will need to hire and retain an experienced lawyer without delay. The longer you delay, the harder it will be to secure the evidence and eye-witness testimonies needed to lend credence to your claim. The insurance adjusters will start their investigation into the accident without delay and will look for any possible loophole they can use to avoid making a fair compensation payment. That’s why you need to hire a Finneytown, OH, car accident lawyer early on so that they can have ample time to prepare for upcoming negotiations.
What Should You Do After Being Injured in an Auto Accident in Finneytown, OH?
It is impossible to be completely safe from the carelessness and negligent actions of other drivers no matter how much of a meticulous and cautious driver you are. It can be particularly upsetting, both mentally and emotionally. However, the time immediately after a car accident isn’t the right one to lose your mind. Below you will find a list of essential things that you need to keep in mind to increase your chances of receiving fair compensation in your auto accident case.
Here are the things to do if you have been injured in an auto accident near Finneytown:
Seeking Medical Treatment
Seeking proper medical attention should be the first and most important thing you do following a car accident. You might assume that your injuries are minor and that you will be perfectly fine, but this way of thinking can be dangerous. Injuries sometimes don’t appear serious initially but can end up having more serious repercussions later. Others, like internal bleeding, can be life-threatening. Perhaps the most important thing that a doctor’s exam can do for your case is to provide you with the essential timestamp connecting your injuries to the accident in question.
Collecting Personal Details of All Parties Involved in the Accident
If your injuries aren’t too severe, you should collect critical contact information from the rest of the parties involved in the accident. You should collect the contact details of the driver, the vehicle’s owner, and those of other passengers in the vehicle. If you find that some parties are reluctant to provide you with their information, avoid pushing your request. You can collect that information from the police officers that will inevitably arrive on the accident scene.
Documenting the Accident Scene
You will also want to take some pictures of the accident scene from different angles using your mobile device’s camera. You should try capturing some wide-angle shots of all vehicles involved in the accident along with close-ups of skid marks, injuries, damages, as well as traffic signals in the vicinity of the accident scene.
Contacting Your Insurance Company
It is a requirement to inform your insurance provider after being involved in an accident. You are, however, not obligated whatsoever to speak to the other party’s insurance adjuster. It is important to be extra careful about what you say or do immediately after the accident since it can be used against you to invalidate the claim. This may include making assumptions about your condition, polite apologies, or even accusations. Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster’s role is only to reduce the payouts made by the insurance company, which is why they usually look for any detail to prove this point. Visit here for more information on what to avoid saying to insurance companies.
Saving All Your Receipts
You should keep detailed records as well as updated information throughout the process of treatment and recovering from your injuries. Keep meticulous records of the care received from emergency services as well as the ambulance that takes you to the ER. Keep all documents and notes from your doctors and other medical staff along with the bills and receipts for any medications or treatments you have bought.
Contacting a Competent Auto Accident Attorney
If you hire a competent car accident lawyer in Finneytown, you can increase your chances of a full coverage and make sure that your rights are protected. The sooner the lawyer can start their investigation into your case, the fresher the evidence is likely to be and the more weight it can lend to your case.
It is important to be aware that you don’t need a lawyer to represent you, but it can help if you would seriously like to receive the compensation amount that you are entitled to. After all, the other party will probably have the backing of professional legal support and will be certain that you will get the bare minimum in terms of compensation if you don’t have a lawyer representing you.
Hiring a skilled attorney to handle the legal aspects of your case will help you know the exact amount of compensation you are entitled to and will help you detect a low-ball offer from the insurance company. The lawyer you hire will skillfully file your case and make adequate preparations for intense negotiations and possible legal battles with the opposing parties. That will greatly increase your chances of receiving a higher payout.
What Compensation Should I Expect from a Car Accident Case in Ohio?
If you have been involved in an accident, you will inevitably be concerned about the type of financial assistance you should be expecting. Under Ohio law, accident victims can receive compensation for different types of damages. Some of these include compensation for lost wages, time away from work, while others will cover treatment costs and medical fees. You can also be compensated for intangible damages such as pain and suffering. Compensation not only covers your current damages and expenses but also future damages and expenses caused by your accident.
Compensation for auto accident cases typically covers:
- Lost wages and loss of earning potential
- Medical expenses
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Transport costs to and from medical appointments
- Loss of earning potential and lost wages
- Mental health treatment and counseling
- Costs of hiring personal domestic help
- The impact of the accident on family, close relationships, and a general sense of well-being.
The above list shows some of the most common reasons why compensation can be granted in auto accident cases. Still, it can be a good idea to have your case thoroughly reviewed by an experienced auto accident attorney who can provide you with a more specific figure after factoring in all the details. Keep in mind that it is never advisable to accept a settlement offer made by the insurance company before a lawyer reviews your case and assures you that it is reasonable enough.
How Is Liability Determined in Auto Accident Cases in Ohio?
In Ohio, the comparative negligence law states that an accident victim is still entitled to compensation even if they are partly to blame for the accident. Other states have the contributory negligence law that states that victims can only receive compensation if they have no (0 percent) fault in the accident.
The comparative negligence law also states that the amount of compensation accident victims are entitled to is the amount of damages sustained less than the percentage of fault shared in the accident. It means that if the accident victim’s total damages are $100,000, but they were 30 percent to blame for the accident, they can only expect to receive a maximum of $70,000. If the victim’s percentage of fault in the accident is 50 percent or higher, they won’t receive any compensation.
Taking this into consideration, it is easy to see why it is important to hire an experienced lawyer to make these claims to minimize your fault in the accident and help you secure the highest amount of compensation possible. As you might expect, the insurance company will do everything legally possible to pin it all on you to avoid having to compensate you for your damages or injuries. You should, therefore, hire a qualified lawyer in Finneytown at your side working to minimize your fault.
Is It Expensive To Hire an Auto Accident Attorney in Finneytown, OH?
One of the biggest concerns of car accident victims is how much the case/claim will cost them. However, that’s a worry that can be quickly put to rest since most reputable auto accident attorneys in Finneytown actually operate under a contingency fee basis. It means that you won’t be charged for consultations, resources, and skills that they invest in building the case until your case is won and you receive the compensation that you are entitled to. Once the checks have been signed after the settlement, the lawyer will take a pre-agreed upon a percentage of the compensation amount as remuneration for a successful case. If the case isn’t successful, you won’t have to pay anything for all the hard work they put into it.
Who Is Responsible for Fixing My Vehicle After the Accident?
Depending on who you ask this question, you will get a different answer. If you were to ask your auto repair shop technician, they would probably say it is your responsibility to make the repairs since it is your vehicle. However, under Ohio law, the party responsible for the damages is required to make the necessary repairs.
It is important to note that the accident report by the police isn’t the final word when it comes to determining who is at fault in the accident. While there will be cases where the damage makes it clear who the at-fault party is, that’s not always the case and some accidents are actually a bit more complex. In such a situation, the photos of the accident scene, eye witness reports, and other critical details are studied to determine who is at fault.
What Happens If the Other Driver Was Either Uninsured or Underinsured?
If you have been in a car accident and find that the other driver is either uninsured or isn’t carrying sufficient coverage, the situation might seem a bit more complicated. Under Ohio law, all motorists are required to carry a minimum insurance policy, but this is often not sufficient to cover all expenses involved in the aftermath of the accident.
It is possible to sue the driver directly for damages, but underinsured drivers are often not owners of high-value assets that could be used to settle the case. In such a situation, you will have to study your insurance policy carefully to find out whether it is possible to recover money from there. If yours is a no-fault policy, it means that it doesn’t matter whether or not the accident is your fault, it is still possible to receive compensation.
For Your Free Consultation, Contact Experienced Lawyers at Young, Reverman, and Mazzei
A car accident can be a life-changing and serious event whose consequences can be felt for a long time both physically and financially. You should not expect insurance adjusters to protect your interests since the compensation that they provide you won’t be sufficient to make up for the injuries and damages you have suffered. With that in mind, it isn’t advisable to take on any risks in a car accident case. Contact the law offices of Young, Reverman, and Mazzei to book your free consultation and case evaluation today. We will worry about addressing the legal issues that surround your case to allow you to focus your energy and mind on making a complete recovery.
