Lima Car Accident Lawyer

No matter who you are or how safe of a driver you assume yourself to be, being involved in a car accident at some point in your life is a possibility. And living in Lima, which is located alongside Interstate 75, that accident could be a serious interstate collision that occurs at high speeds.

As a law firm that has handled many car accident cases over the years, our attorneys know how terrifying car accidents can be, and that you may have a lot of questions about what happens next or who is liable for your losses, especially if you have sustained significant injuries and damages. At the law office of Groth & Associates, our Lima, OH car accident attorneys are here to represent you throughout the process of recovering damages. Please contact us today for your free car accident consultation.

STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

One way that you can protect yourself and improve your chances of recovering the compensation that you deserve after a car accident in Lima is to ensure that you follow these steps:

• Report your car accident. If your car accident results in injuries or property damage, you have a legal duty to ensure that is reported. However, even if the collision is not an injury crash, reporting it is still a smart idea. If you do not report your crash, an insurance adjuster may doubt that it actually happened.
• See a doctor. While you may not have any urge to see a doctor or go to the emergency room after being involved in a car accident, doing so is strongly recommended, even if you don’t have any obvious injuries. Like not reporting your car accident, failing to seek medical care could cast doubt on your claim.
• File your claim. As you wait for the police to arrive when you are reporting your accident, talk to the other driver and get all pertinent information, get names of any witnesses, and write down any details of the accident that you can recall – all of this will be essential at a later date. Then, you should report your accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. If you fail to report the accident and file your claim, you could be barred from recovering damages.

For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Lima, call (419) 930-3030

WHO PAYS FOR CAR ACCIDENTS IN OHIO?

Car accidents can result in multiple different types of damages. The most obvious losses are property damage to a vehicle and medical expenses to pay for any injuries sustained. However, there are often other, less obvious losses associated with a car crash as well, such as lost wages (if a person is injured, they may be unable to return to work), psychological injuries, and pain and suffering. Long-term disability, disfigurement, scarring, or/and impairment should all be compensated as well.

Ohio maintains an at-fault insurance system, which means that you only have to pay for damages in a crash if you are the person at fault for the collision. As such, if the other driver was 100 percent to blame for your crash, you can hold the driver 100 percent liable for your losses. Keep in mind, however, that Ohio also recognizes the system of modified comparative negligence. Under the modified comparative negligence standard, you can recover damages from another party so long as you are not more than 50 percent to blame for the accident. If you are found to be 50 percent or less at fault, then your recoverable damages amount will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. For example, if you were 10 percent at fault for the crash, then the other driver will only be responsible for paying for 90 percent of the total amount of damages that you sustained.

Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (419) 930-3030

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVING FAULT

WHILE PERSONAL INJURIES ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ACCIDENTS, THEY ARE OFTEN THE RESULT OF ANOTHER PERSON’S RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT CONDUCT.

Because Ohio has an at-fault system of insurance rather than a no-fault system, proving that the other driver was at fault becomes a very important component of ensuring that you recover the compensation that you deserve. Indeed, as explained above, if you cannot prove fault (or cannot prove that you were not at fault), then your compensation award may be reduced, or your claim may even be denied.
There are many different types of evidence that can be used to build your case. Your attorney will help you to gather this evidence, such as photographs, video footage, cellphone logs, electronic control module data, experts’ opinions, damage to vehicles, and more. We work with accident reconstruction and forensic experts who are experienced in determining fault and proving it.

ACTING QUICKLY TO FILE YOUR CLAIM

As stated above, it is imperative that you notify an insurance company of your accident and initiate the car accident claims process as soon as possible; if you fail to do so, the insurance company may deny your claim.

Once you have started the claims process, an insurance adjuster will valuate your claim, which means that they will make a determination regarding what your case is worth. You will then likely be offered a settlement. You have the right to reject this settlement, and renegotiate for a higher amount if you believe that the original offer does not fully compensate you.

If a settlement cannot be reached, you also have the option of filing a car accident lawsuit in court. If you do this, you must file your lawsuit within two years’ time. If you wait longer than two years, your case will not be heard.

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CONTACT OUR TALENTED LIMA, OHIO CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS TODAY

We know how upsetting being in a car accident can be, and recognize that you probably don’t want to be worrying about how much money you are going to recover when you are focused on healing from your injuries. When you hire our law firm, we will handle all the complicated elements of your claim on your behalf, and work diligently to improve your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.

To schedule your free consultation with our Ohio car accident attorneys at Groth & Associates, please call us today directly, or send us a message using the form on our website. We always work on a contingency fee basis.

Call or text (419) 930-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form