Perrysburg Car Accident Lawyer

For many of us, driving or riding in a car is an everyday occurrence. Every time you get into your car, you put yourself at risk of being involved in a car accident. Of course, you can take steps to reduce this risk like obeying the posted traffic laws, but you can never truly avoid the risk.

If you are injured in a car accident, you can find yourself facing significant financial damages like high medical bills, lost wages, and other miscellaneous expenses that can quickly add up and place a financial hardship on you and your family.

WHAT CAUSES CAR ACCIDENTS

In many cases, negligence causes car accidents. Negligence can occur on the part of a driver, such as reckless driving, drunk driving, or distracted driving. The government or private entity charged with maintaining the roadway, parking lot, or garage where an accident occurs may also be found negligent if the accident was due to a poor design or lack of proper maintenance. Vehicle manufacturers and retailers can also be deemed negligent in cases where accidents occur because of vehicle malfunctions.

When a party is deemed to be negligent, that party is liable for the victim’s damages that occur as a result of the accident.

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

FAULT CAN BE SHARED

In many accidents, only one driver is to blame. The accident victim was following traffic safety rules when a dangerous driver plowed into them or forced them off the road. However, other accidents are not so black and white, and both motorists could be partially to blame.

For example, a drunk driver might have struck you in the intersection, but you were looking at your phone and came to a stop with your front end hanging over the stop line. In this example, both drivers are negligent for failing to drive safely. What happens?

In Ohio, your own contributory fault does not prevent you from receiving compensation unless it is greater than the defendants’. So if you are 51% or more to blame, then you will receive nothing. If you are under, you can receive some compensation—but the amount gets reduced by your proportion of fault.

Here is a clear example. You suffered $100,000 in damage for a car accident. Someone who is 25% to blame will receive $75,000 at most. If you are 50% to blame, you can receive $50,000 in damages. And if you are 51% or more at fault, you get $0. That might sound harsh, but it’s the law in our state.

Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (419) 930-3030

HOW CAN I BE INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT

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

There are many ways drivers and passengers can be injured in car accidents. These include:

• Broken bones;
• Sprains and strains;
• Organ and tissue damage;
• Cuts, burns, bruising, and scars; and
• Traumatic brain injuries.

Injuries vary in severity, but even minor physical injuries cause dramatic repercussions. Someone who suffers a burn or cut on their face might suffer from emotional anguish and withdraw from friends or family. Other relatively minor injuries can nonetheless compress nerves, leading to chronic pain and depression.

YOU DESERVE COMPENSATION FOR YOUR PERRYSBURG CAR ACCIDENT

After a wreck, many motorists struggle financially, which is not surprising. Bodily injuries like those listed above can send someone to the emergency room where you might need surgery or close monitoring. A moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, for example, could land you in the intensive care unit for days.

Very few people have the funds to pay tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for medical care, and many lack health insurance. Trying to cover the costs of medical care is a tricky situation for many car accident victims.

There is also the added expense of needing to get your car fixed. Some vehicles are totaled in high-speed collisions, and you’ll need to buy a new car and probably rent one until you do. Unless you have collision insurance, you will need to pay for repairs with cash or credit.

At the same time, our clients often can’t work. Because they feel so much pain, they are stuck in bed for weeks or months at a time. Without a paycheck, the financial stress they feel only intensifies.

Fortunately, our Perrysburg car accident lawyer can seek compensation for your damages in a settlement. We have brought claims against negligent drivers for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost wages
• Car damage
• Other property damage
• Past and future pain and suffering

In a free consultation, we will gladly discuss how much money you might receive based on the unique facts of your case.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT

Remain calm. If anybody involved in the accident needs emergency medical attention, call 911 to have an ambulance sent to the scene.

Next, call the local police department to have an officer report to the scene. Be sure to file an official police report with him or her and do not leave without a copy. This, along with the photographs you take of the accident, your medical record, and eyewitness reports of the accident, will be an important piece of evidence to support your claim.

Before leaving the scene, exchange insurance information with the other driver involved in the accident. You will need to file your claim with his or her insurance provider.

After leaving the scene, your next step should be to seek medical attention as soon as possible for your injury. Receiving a prompt diagnosis and medical care can mean the difference between an easy recovery and a prolonged one. Once you have received the medical treatment you need, consider working with a lawyer to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your damages.

DO YOU REALLY NEED A LAWYER?

We hear all the time from people who think they can handle their car accident claim themselves. We always warn them that it is probably a mistake. Unless your injuries were very minor, it helps to at least meet with a lawyer to go over your case, which might be worth much more than you assume.

Our firm provides critical services to those injured in car wrecks, including:

• Review whether you have the right under Ohio law to bring a claim against a driver.
• Analyze any relevant insurance policies to see how much compensation is available in the event you are successful.
• Collect evidence to establish fault for the collision, such as inspecting the cars involved.
• Interview witnesses who saw the accident to determine what happened in the lead up to the crash.
• Coordinate with doctors and other experts to understand your injuries and their financial impact on you going forward.

This is a lot of work. Without the right evidence, an insurance company will reject your claim and close your file. Someone who is injured should focus on rehabilitation and getting well, which is a full-time job.

We can also negotiate effectively on your behalf. Insurance companies like nothing better than to see a victim without a lawyer. They have a history of offering very low settlements, which some victims accept because they don’t think they can expect better.

WORK WITH AN EXPERIENCED PERRYSBURRG CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER

If you have been injured in a car accident in Perrysburg or elsewhere in Ohio, work with an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you seek the compensation you need through a car accident claim. To learn more about the personal injury claim process, contact our team of experienced car accident lawyers at Groth & Associates to set up your initial consultation in our office. We represent people on contingency fee agreements, which means there is no up-front cost to you.

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