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All You Need to Know About Personal Injury Laws in Ohio

May 11, 2019
If you have sustained an injury from an accident in Ohio, you need to know what your rights are. In this article, we’ll go into the details of what you can and should do in case you’re injured in an automobile accident.

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS IF YOU ARE NOT AT FAULT?

Ohio is an at-fault automobile insurance state, which means that whoever is deemed guilty is liable for all damages. In other words, whoever caused the accident should pay for everything. If you’re not at fault, the other party or their insurance company must foot the bill when it comes to any damage or injury resulting from the accident. If you’re not at fault, you can file a claim using your insurance policy. You will first get the treatment and repair costs from your own insurance company and they will get the money they’re owed from the other party.

UNDERSTANDING THE TYPE OF DAMAGES YOU HAVE SUSTAINED

You have to understand that there are different types of damage that can be caused by an automobile accident, each of which requires a different approach to claim for compensation. All in all, all sorts of damage can be boiled down to two distinct types: economic damages and non-economic damages. We will go into details of these damages below.

// Economic Damages

Economic damages such as physical injuries, damages to the properties, and the inability to work and earn a living can have a real effect on one’s finances. These types of damages can be compensated for much easier than the non-economic variant.

// Non-economic Damages

This category of damages includes anything that may not have obvious or immediate monetary losses. It can include everything from psychological scars to compensation for the other party’s reckless behaviour.

ARE THERE LIMITS TO COMPENSATORY DAMAGES?

In Ohio, most compensation cases will have a cap of around $250,000, but this may vary from case to case depending on the severity and the nature of the case. For example, if an individual’s extreme recklessness has caused a loss of limb or long-term livelihood, the perpetrator may have to provide monetary support for that individual for decades to come.

CAN I BE COMPENSATED FOR SLIP-AND-FALL ACCIDENTS?

Yes, Ohio laws include both automobile and slip-and-fall accidents in the same category. For example, if a construction company has caused damage to a property, you can file a lawsuit.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS IF I’M INJURED ON SOMEONE ELSE’S PROPERTY?

In Ohio, the accident law covers you regardless of your location. Therefore, if you enter a property legally as a client, guest, or employee and get injured, the property owner may owe you compensation. On the other hand, if the injured party knowingly entered a dangerous property then had an accident there, the owner may not be held responsible.

For example, if someone who isn’t involved with an operation walks onto a construction site and gets injured, the property owner is most likely not liable for that damage. On the other hand, if that happens to one of the site’s workers, the employer will be liable for the injury.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL ATTORNEY

If you have sustained any type of injury in an accident, the first thing you need to do is to assess whether it’s worth having an attorney on your side. This can be rather difficult to do, especially if you’re not involved in the medical field. Therefore, it’s best that you speak to a doctor and ask for an estimate, then learn more about the compensation law before you pursue legal action.

If the injury is deemed significant and the party responsible doesn’t want to pay you what they owe, then we suggest that you work with a professional injury attorney. They can represent your best interests and negotiate with the other party for you. This is something that you may not be able to do effectively on your own, as you may get taken advantage of by the other party’s lawyer.

If you’re looking for a professional personal injury lawyer, Schuller Law Office is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.
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