Serious car accidents result in life-threatening injuries to the involved parties. The cars involved may be totaled or require extensive repairs, while injured parties may require intensive medical treatment or have permanent disabilities.
Some examples of injuries that could occur in a serious car accident include:
- Amputation or dismemberment
- Disfigurement
- Fractures or broken bones
- Vital organ damage
- Trauma to the head, neck, and brain
- Paralysis or spinal cord injuries
Furthermore, the financial strain from serious car accidents can be substantial, through property damage, high healthcare costs, and potentially increased insurance premiums.
Mandatory Reporting of Serious Car Accidents
According to rules set forth by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, it’s imperative to report car accidents that result in:
- Any kind of injury
- Fatality
- Property damage exceeding $500
The report will feature pivotal information about the accident – the date, time, location, and the identities of all those involved. Although you have half a year to report the incident, prompt reporting is advisable.
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Potential Compensation After Serious Car Accidents
Victims of serious car accidents are often eligible for compensation covering their losses resulting from the accident. Such compensation can include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can be quantified accurately, while non-economic damages are harder to gauge.
Economic damages might include:
- Medical bills and rehabilitation costs
- Loss of earnings
- Diminished future earning potential
- Funeral costs (in the event of death)
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, might consist of:
- Lasting pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and psychological distress
- Loss of companionship
- Diminishment in the quality of life
- Permanent disability.
Insurance settlements or legal awards could enable you to recoup these costs. While not necessary, a lawyer’s assistance could prove invaluable in these situations.
How Our Legal Experts Can Support You
After a severe car accident, insurance companies may contact you. While they often present as friendly, their primary objective is profit. Consequently, their principal motive might be offering you the least compensation possible.
Yet, when you work with a personal injury lawyer, they can negotiate with the insurer for a fair settlement or represent you in court, if necessary. If you are interested in filing a lawsuit, according to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.10, you generally have two years to bring your case before a judge.
Services Our Law Firm Provides
Our legal team can build your case by:
- Investigating the accident
- Gathering evidence to support your case, such as traffic surveillance footage
- Examining the police report and your medical records
- Interviewing witnesses and first responders
- Consulting with third-party field experts to learn more about your injuries and the accident
- Estimating the cost of your incurred damages
- Serving as your legal advocate
Your lawyer may be able to recover compensation by providing additional services than those included above.
We can Prove Negligence Following a Serious Car Accident in Ohio
To win your case, your legal team will need to provide evidence that shows how another party was negligent and is, therefore, responsible for your financial losses.
Your lawyer must prove the following four elements:
- Duty of care. The liable party had a duty of care to promote the safety and well-being of others.
- Breach of duty of care. The liable party breached this duty by failing to act in a reasonable and responsible manner.
- This breach resulted in a serious car accident that harmed you.
- You suffered injuries and damages as a result of the accident.
Even if you contributed to the collision, you still may be entitled to compensation. If you were less than 51% responsible for the accident, then under ORC §2315.33, your damages will be adjusted to account for your role in the collision.
Our firm can determine the facts of your situation and explain how they apply to your case.
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What Should You do After a Serious Car Accident?
Your case’s success depends on the measures taken in its aftermath. Here are some things to keep in mind after getting hurt:
Seek Medical Attention
Internal injuries, like brain trauma, spinal cord damage, and internal bleeding, are not immediately noticeable after a collision. By seeking medical attention, you can learn more about your treatment options and prognosis. Keep track of your lab test results, imaging scans, and doctors’ appointments, as this information could verify your testimony.
Save All Communications
You should keep track of all communications between yourself, the involved insurance companies, and the other party’s legal team. This includes all emails and text messages. While the Ohio Bar says that you can record phone conversations, this comes with certain limitations.
Consider Your Legal Options
If you or a loved one was injured in a serious collision, consider how our personal injury team can assist you. Our goal is to provide warm and supportive legal care as you pursue compensation for your injury-related expenses.
Additionally, our team works on a contingency-fee-basis. You do not need to worry about the cost of legal representation when you partner with us. We only get paid at the successful conclusion of your case. Otherwise, you do not owe us our attorney’s fees.
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Connect with Bressman Law Following a Serious Car Accident
A serious car accident can impact your life in almost every way. Right now, you could be missing time from work or face limitations to your physical abilities.
We encourage you to act quickly. When you call today, you will enter into a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your options for financial recovery. To get started, call today to our car accident lawyer.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
