Injury Attorney By Me

In Ohio, when someone’s negligent or reckless conduct causes another person to suffer an injury, the at-fault party can be required to compensate the injured party for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to collect damages from the responsible party, even when he or she was clearly at fault. For this reason, it is critical that those who have been involved in an accident contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can advise them.

Types of Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury lawsuits can be filed by victims who were injured in:

• Motor vehicle accidents;
• Accidents caused by a defective consumer product;
• Animal attacks;
• Accidents caused by medical negligence;
• Slip and fall accidents;
• Accidents at construction sites;
• Bicycle accidents;
• Pedestrian accidents; and
• Swimming/boating accidents.

To collect compensation in these types of cases, an injured party will need to demonstrate that the other party’s negligence was the cause of his or her injury.

Statute of Limitations

To be eligible to collect compensation for their losses, injured parties must file a claim within a certain time period, known as a statute of limitations. For instance, a person who suffered a physical injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence has two years from the date of the accident to file a claim against the responsible party. On the other hand, someone who was injured as a result of medical negligence only has a single year in which to file a claim. Failing to file a lawsuit within this time period can have serious consequences, as a court will most likely refuse to hear the case.

Available Damages

Being injured in an accident can cost victims thousands of dollars in medical bills alone. In many cases, injured parties are also forced to take time off from work until they have fully healed, which can make it all but impossible to stay financially afloat. Fortunately, plaintiffs who can demonstrate another party’s negligence can collect compensation for these costs, which could include:

• Ambulance services;
• Emergency treatment;
• Overnight hospital stays;
• Follow-up doctor’s appointments;
• Prescription medications;
• Surgery;
• Physical therapy; and
• Specialized medical devices.

However, medical expenses are not the only costs for which an injured party can be compensated. For instance, someone who suffered a spinal cord injury because he or she was rear ended may be able to collect compensation for the following damages:

• Lost wages;
• Loss of future income;
• Property damage; and
• Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.

Although medical expenses and lost wages can be calculated with relative ease, it can be very difficult to determine how much a person suffered in non-economic damages, such as emotional distress. Typically, when determining an appropriate award, courts are directed to take into consideration the following factors:

• The nature and extent of the injuries;
• The age and health of the victim prior to the accident;
• Whether the injury aggravated a health problem that was already in existence before the accident; and
• Whether the injured party has access to drugs or medical treatment to relieve his or her pain.

These factors are then used to calculate how much a plaintiff has suffered as a result of an accident.

Call an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today  

Injury-causing accidents are frightening and painful. Fortunately, negligent parties can and should be held accountable for their actions, so if you were injured in an accident and you believe that someone else was responsible, please contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC at 419-241-5500 today.