According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), Ohio has had around 1,000 fatal car accidents every year since 2015. Many of these accidents were likely side-impact collisions. Side-impact collisions are particularly dangerous because of a lack of protection between drivers or passengers and the sides of vehicles. While most modern vehicles have side-impact airbags and other safety features, the side of a vehicle has the least amount of protection from a direct impact from another vehicle. A side-impact can also push the vehicle into other objects, leading to more significant damage.
If you or a loved one were injured in a side-impact collision, you may be able to take legal action to help you deal with the financial costs of your recovery. It is in your best interest to discuss your case with an Akron side-impact collisions lawyer to see what your legal options are. Contact the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 to learn more in a free consultation.
Statute of Limitations
If you decide to take legal action, you have a limited amount of time to do so. In every state, there are legal limits to how long you have to file lawsuits. These are called the statutes of limitation, and they exist for both civil and criminal cases.
According to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) § 2305.10, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit for personal injuries and property damage. This may seem like a lot of time, but it can pass quickly when trying to recover from an accident. Many accident victims do not involve lawyers until months after an accident. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to collect evidence and find witnesses. Give your lawyer the best chance of building a strong case by contacting a lawyer as soon as possible.
For a free legal consultation with a side-impact collisions lawyer serving Akron, call (844) 730-0233
Determining Liability
Liability is an important part of a civil lawsuit since it determines who the lawsuit can be filed against. Liability essentially means that a person or entity (like a company) is financially responsible for any of the damages that it causes. In this case, the other driver that caused the accident may be liable for your expenses.
If the vehicle that caused your accident was owned by a company, then the company may be held liable for the damages. This may not be true in every case as there are mitigating circumstances on how companies have liability over their vehicles, but it is something that your Akron side-impact collisions lawyer will consider when building your case.
Akron Side-Impact Collisions Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Auto Insurance Settlements
Insurance also plays an important role in your case. Insurance companies usually step in to represent their customers after an accident, which means the other driver’s insurance company will likely try to resolve the case by offering you an insurance settlement.
Insurance settlements can be an effective way to quickly close a case without having to resort to legal action. If you accept the settlement, you receive whatever amount of compensation you agree to and close all of your claims for compensation. It is important that you thoroughly review any settlement agreement that you are offered before accepting it. Insurance companies offer smaller settlements to try to reduce the amount of money that they have to pay out. If you accept an insurance settlement that is too small, you may be stuck with financial obligations without receiving the compensation that you need and deserve.
One of the best things about an insurance settlement is that it can be renegotiated. You are not obligated to accept an insurance settlement. Instead, have your lawyer renegotiate to make sure that you receive the right amount of compensation for your needs.
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Medical Expenses
Side-impact collisions often result in large amounts of medical expenses. Some of these medical expenses can include:
- Emergency care: Going to the emergency room or being taken there in an ambulance can be expensive. It also may not be covered by an insurance policy.
- Long-term medical care: You may need repeated care to make sure that you are recovering from your accident without developing other health problems.
- Physical therapy: Serious injuries may require physical therapy to heal fully. Physical therapy is a specialty area of healthcare and may not be covered by insurance.
- Diagnostic testing: If you have serious injuries, you may need diagnostic tests such as X-rays to determine how serious your injuries are. You also may need to see a specialist, which can be expensive.
There are other possible medical expenses not covered on this list. Many accident victims end up in significant medical debt since they do not have the funds put away to handle unexpected medical expenses. This is also why many victims decide to file civil lawsuits against the drivers who caused their accidents. Recovering compensation can eliminate years of financial troubles and trying to get your finances back on track.
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Reasons to Hire a Lawyer
Many victims think that it was a smart move to hire a lawyer after being in a side-impact collision accident. A lawyer can give you legal advice and guide you through the process of taking legal action if that is the best choice for you. The legal process can be complicated, and you may run into problems without proper training and experience. On top of all of that, you are trying to recover from injuries and get your life back on track. Trying to manage a lawsuit while recovering can be stressful and impact your health more. Hiring a lawyer is wise, so that you can get the expertise that you need to take action while focusing on your recovery.
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If you or a loved one were injured in a side-impact collision, you may be able to take legal action against the party that caused your accident. Discuss your case with the office of an Akron side-impact collisions lawyer to see if you can file a claim to recover compensation. Call the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case with our team.
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