More than five million motor vehicle accidents occur in the United States each year. In Ohio, the annual number of crashes exceeds 35,000.
One of the first steps that crash victims can take is hiring a car accident lawyer — and for good reason. Handling a personal injury claim without an experienced attorney on your side can make a difference when it comes to the final settlement amount. Sometimes, it can even make the difference between winning and losing a case.
Why It’s a Good Idea
When injuries are serious, having an attorney is not only a good idea, but it’s also imperative for fairly settling a car crash injury case. Here are a few reasons why.
Victims Often Lack Adequate Legal Knowledge
The injured are entitled to seek compensation for the financial harm caused by a crash through a personal injury claim. However, filing a claim demands a firm grasp of laws and procedures. In Ohio, for instance, there are laws that apply to negligence and a statute of limitations as well as the state’s at-fault system.
An experienced car accident lawyer knows the state’s personal injury laws inside out. They can explain a victim’s rights without spending hours researching them. They’ll also be accustomed to the procedures, including important deadlines. Their solid knowledge of laws related to car crash injuries will almost automatically help bolster a case during the settlement process.
Serious Injuries Can Get Seriously Complex
With accidents that cause severe injuries or wrongful death, hiring a lawyer couldn’t make more sense.
First of all, an individual dealing with a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or amputation usually is physically unable to put time and effort into gathering the evidence needed to support a personal injury claim or negotiate with insurance companies.
Secondly, severe injuries — like those noted above — may lead to long-term, life-altering disabilities requiring ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. A victim may not be able to return to work. Self-representation is a gamble, and their future is at stake.
Determining Liability Can Be Complicated
When a car crash results in serious injuries and another party is responsible, determining liability can get tricky. It calls for establishing that their negligence caused the crash and the crash caused the victim’s injuries. Both must be backed up with evidence, such as police reports, medical records and bills, and documentation showing lost income.
An attorney not only plays a vital role in gathering and preserving the evidence, but they also will use the evidence to build a strong case and negotiate a settlement.
In many car accidents, fault is shared, meaning each party involved contributed to the crash. This can complicate a case. Ohio has adopted the modified comparative negligence approach to determine liability.
Under this approach, if it’s determined that the injured individual was 51% or more to blame for the car accident, the victim can’t seek compensation through a personal injury claim.
Insurance companies and the courts use comparative negligence to decide on settlement amounts. Therefore, it’s essential that the victim and defendant have legal counsel to determine the other party’s responsibility as well as to present evidence and advocate on their behalf.
Injured in a Car Crash?
Were you injured in a car accident? Contact Schiff & Associates to schedule a consultation with a Columbus, Ohio, car accident attorney. We’ll assess your case and explain your options.