Toledo Car Accident Lawyer

Every year, car accidents kill or seriously injure over two million Americans. Sometimes, drivers make poor choices before they get behind the wheel. They may drive under the influence of alcohol or while fatigued. Other times, drivers operate their vehicles in unsafe manners. They may run a stop sign or make an illegal turn. If this negligence causes injury, substantial compensation may be available.

At Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, our aggressive lawyers take on stingy insurance companies. We assemble evidence, plug that evidence into the appropriate legal theory, and then fight for you. All the while, we proactively keep you informed about important developments in your case. This simple and straightforward formula has served us very well in the past. We believe it will also produce results that exceed your expectations.

Injuries in Toledo Car Crash Cases

Overall, today’s cars are much more crash-resistant than the ones made 20 years ago. But these innovations do not reduce the tremendous amount of force that acts on the victim’s body during a car crash. Furthermore, these innovations do absolutely nothing to protect motorcycle riders, pedestrians, and other non-vehicle occupants. If anything, safer cars give drivers a false sense of security, so they take even more chances than before.

In the wake of a serious crash, medical bills exceeding $100,000 are quite common. Some of the serious injuries in Toledo car crash cases include:

• Head Injuries: Restraint systems prevent many trauma injuries, but they do not affect motion-related head injuries. It is possible to injure the brain without breaking the skull, in the same way one can scramble an egg without cracking the shell.
• Internal Injuries: The same forces that cause head injuries often cause internal organs to bump and grind against each other. As a result, they often bleed profusely. Many times, doctors do not detect internal injuries straightaway, so the victims continue losing blood.
• Broken Bones: Many serious crashes crush bones as opposed to simply breaking them. So, doctors must use reconstructive metal pins and plates during surgery. Then, the victims face long-term physical therapy to regain lost functioning.

Damages in Ohio vehicle collision claims usually include compensation for economic losses, such as lost wages from time taken off work to recover and mounting medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. In rare cases, a plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages, if the actions of the defendant were particularly egregious.

Types of Negligence in Toledo Car Crash Claims

To obtain these damages, victim/plaintiffs must establish liability by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). Often, there is a difference between fault at the scene and legal responsibility for damages. First responders investigate the facts before they assign fault, but their investigations usually only scratch the surface.

So, a personal injury attorney must often collect additional evidence in the case. That could involve traditional evidence, like additional witness statements. This process often involves electronic evidence, as well, such as a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder.

Based on the evidence and the applicable law, your claim for damages usually involves either negligence or negligence per se. Negligence is a lack of ordinary care that causes injury. Negligence per se is the violation of a safety statute that causes injury.

Reach Out to Assertive Attorneys

Car crashes often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Toledo, contact Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott LLC. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no attorneys fees unless you receive compensation for your injuries.