Car Accident Injury Lawyers in Defiance

Ohio law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance at a minimum to cover injuries and damage you cause to other vehicles, property, and people on the road. You can purchase other possible coverages, including uninsured/underinsured driver’s insurance, collision, theft, and personal injury property. Coverages such as theft, collision, and personal injury protection will payout regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

You may be wondering whether you need to hire an Ohio personal injury lawyer to assist you with your accident claim. Are your injuries severe? Were there more than two vehicles involved in the collision? Have you tried to negotiate with the other driver’s insurance, and they refuse to engage in meaningful negotiations? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, speaking with an attorney is highly recommended. If you are searching online for car accident injury lawyers in Defiance, contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC to schedule a consultation.

How Car Accident Claims Work in Defiance, OH

Understandably, you may not know whether you should report the accident to your own insurance company or file a third-party claim with the other driver’s insurance. Your percentage of fault in the accident will determine whether you can recover any compensation for your injuries and other damages. If you are deemed to be more than 50% at fault, you will not recover any money from the other driver’s insurance. If you are less than 50% liable, you could receive a portion of your damages. Your recovery will always be reduced by your percentage of fault in this case. For example, if you are 60% at fault, you will recover nothing. If you are 40% at fault, you could recover 60% of your damages.

Because fault plays such an important role in determining who is responsible for paying out in an accident claim, you can expect the other driver’s insurance will be looking for any evidence that places you primarily at fault so they can deny your claim outright. Insurance companies are for-profit companies, which means they are looking to reduce their exposure and financial responsibility wherever possible.

In cases of disputed liability, we always recommend contacting our office to schedule a meeting so we can give you a professional opinion on whether you have a potential claim for recovery or not.

Contact Our Car Accident Injury Lawyers in Defiance

If you were involved in a minor fender bender, you likely do not need to hire a lawyer. When you have more serious injuries, or there are multiple vehicles involved, it’s worth speaking with an attorney. To learn more about how we can help, contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC today to schedule an initial consultation.