Toledo Injury Lawyer

Every year, car crashes kill or seriously injure millions of Americans. Toledo, Ohio is especially dangerous. Interstate 75, one of the busiest and most hazardous freeways in the nation, runs almost directly through the center of town. Furthermore, mid-sized cities like Toledo often do not have the medical infrastructure to deal with catastrophic, life-threatening vehicle collision injuries. So, the risk of a crash is high, and the risk of serious injury is even higher.

Before other lawyers handle such matters, they must become familiar with all the local rules and procedures. But the experienced Toledo auto accident attorneys at Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott routinely handle these matters in Lucas County and nearby jurisdictions. So, we give our full attention to maximum compensation for your serious injuries. Financial compensation does not reverse a serious injury. However, no one has that power, and money is the next best thing.

First Party Liability

Usually, compensation is available if a Toledo auto accident lawyer establishes negligence, or a lack of care, by a preponderance of the evidence. Common negligence claim foundations include:

• Speeding, tailgating, and other forms of aggressive driving, or
• Fatigue, substance use, and other forms of impaired driving.

These driver errors cause over 98% of vehicle collisions in Ohio. Even if victims survive these wrecks, they usually sustain permanent injuries.

Sometimes, the negligence per se shortcut is available. Tortfeasors (negligent drivers) could be liable for damages as a matter of law if they violate safety laws and those violations substantially cause injuries.

Unfortunately, emergency responders rarely issue citations, even in fatal collision claims. Many police officers don’t want to get involved in what they consider a civil matter.

Defective products, usually defective tires, cause most of the rest of the vehicle collisions in Ohio. Typically, manufacturers are strictly liable for any injuries their defective tires or other defective products cause.

We see plenty of bad weather in Ohio. This bad weather may contribute to a crash, but it never causes it in a legal sense.

Third-Party Liability

Individual tortfeasors are legally responsible for the wreck they cause. Frequently, a third party is financially responsible for the resulting damages.

Dram shop alcohol provider liability is one example. Restaurants, clubs, and other commercial alcohol providers could be liable for damages if they knowingly sell alcohol to intoxicated persons who later cause car wrecks. Frequently, a Toledo auto accident attorney uses circumstantial evidence, like bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, to establish intoxication at the time of sale. 

Underage sales also trigger the dram shop law. Some age-old defenses, like “s/he looked older,” normally do not hold up in court.

Negligent entrustment owner liability cases are common as well. Frequently, family members let other family members borrow their motor vehicles. If these family members cause wrecks, the vehicle owner could be liable for damages. Commercial cases, like U-Haul truck wrecks, are a bit more complex because of the federal Graves Amendment.

Compensation in a vehicle collision claim usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Work With Experienced Lucas County Attorneys

Vehicle collisions often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced auto accident lawyer in Toledo, contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott LLC. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.