Car crashes can happen to even the safest of drivers, and even a minor accident can result in severe and potentially life-threatening injuries. At Groth & Associates, our experienced Toledo Personal injury lawyers understand the impacts a car crash can have on nearly every area of your life.
We have over 100 years of combined experience and are confident that our car accident lawyers in Toledo will have what it takes to get a fair outcome for you. Before settling with an insurance company for less than what you deserve, get our team of attorneys working to ensure your rights and interests are protected.
How Our Car Accident Lawyers in Toledo Will Help You
Being involved in a car accident can be traumatic, especially if you suffer serious injuries as a result of the crash. At our firm, we understand how lost you may be feeling after a crash, and how complicated it can be to deal with insurers and health care providers.
When you call our law firm, we will work hard to get you the settlement that you deserve, and you can take comfort in the fact that we are committed to handling 100 percent of your claim on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your injuries and your recovery. Our legal services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Providing you with a free case review
- Investigating your case
- Working with various experts and outside professionals to build your claim
- Compiling and organizing all evidence and data
- Issuing a demand letter
- Reviewing a settlement award
- Negotiating a settlement that meets your needs
- Representing you in all conversations with the insurance company
- Litigating your case if a settlement cannot be reached
We are also available to answer any questions you have throughout the process. You can count on our lawyers being available and responsive. Reach out to our team today to learn more about the services we provide to injury victims.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Toledo, call (419) 930-3030
Importance of Getting a Lawyer Involved Early On in Your Case
The importance of getting a Toledo car accident lawyer involved in your case early on can’t be overstated. In cases like these, it’s common for evidence to go missing or for eyewitnesses’ memories of the crash to fade over time.
Hiring a lawyer soon will ensure that valuable evidence is collected and preserved. If you get in touch with our team quickly, we’ll also be able to interview witnesses before they forget key details of the crash. Lastly, contacting us soon after an accident will also give our team the time we need to file all documents before the statute of limitations expires.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (419) 930-3030
We’ll Pursue Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries and Losses
When you have been injured in a car accident caused by the fault of another, you have the right to seek compensation for the full extent of damages you have suffered, both economic and non-economic. Our Toledo car accident lawyers will help you build your claim and fight for full compensation.
Depending on how the accident has impacted your health, finances, work, and life in general, our team may pursue any of the following damages for you:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy costs
- Vehicle repair costs
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Estimating Pain and Suffering Damages After a Crash
Estimating compensation for intangible losses like pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress is complicated. For one thing, you don’t have a receipt or bill attached, like you do with medical care.
Few people can actually agree on how much compensation can make up for burn injuries or paralysis that prevents someone from ever walking again. Nevertheless, as experienced Toledo car accident attorneys, we have been working in this field for years. We have seen many cases cycle through the court system, so we have a good idea of how jurors would value your injuries.
We have also seen many settlement offers from insurers, so we understand how they will value your injuries. You can count on our team to calculate how much compensation you should receive for pain and suffering. We’ll fight to get the resources you need to cope with your pain and get your life back on track.
Punitive Damages
The civil law system differs from the criminal system in an important way: the goal of civil law is to compensate victims, not punish offenders. However, civil systems eventually developed punitive damages, which punish a defendant for offensive or egregious conduct that the court wants to deter. In Ohio, you can receive punitive damages if the defendant acted with:
- Malice
- Aggravated or egregious fraud
For example, if someone intentionally struck you with their car, then they have acted with malice, and you could pursue punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Ohio does, however, place a cap on punitive damages. As a rule, you cannot receive more than twice your compensatory damages in punitive damages.
Punitive damages aren’t always applicable. Our Toledo car accident law firm will assess your unique situation and determine if you’re eligible to receive punitive damages.
We Have an Impressive Track Record With Car Accident Cases
Our car accident law firm in Toledo has achieved life-changing case victories for many injury victims. You’ll realize that our firm is the right choice for your case once you’ve reviewed the following outcomes we’ve secured for similar clients:
- $550,000 for a single car accident
- $600,000 for an intersection accident
- $1.5 million for an accident caused by a defective automobile seat design
- $295,000 for a car accident
We’re fully capable of getting maximum compensation for car accident injury victims like yourself. Whether we pursue compensation from the insurance company or by filing a civil suit, we won’t leave any money on the table. Schedule a free consultation with us today to get the help you need to receive a fair settlement or court-awarded payment.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
We’ll Deal With the Insurance Company for You
Trying to negotiate a settlement by yourself is one of the biggest mistakes you can make after an accident. Toledo’s largest insurance companies are very skilled at getting people to accept far less in compensation than their injuries are truly worth. Adjusters can quickly convince injured motorists that they can only offer a few thousand dollars for devastating injuries.
Our Toledo car accident attorneys know all the tricks that insurance companies use. We can properly value the cost of your injuries and negotiate a very fair settlement that fully compensates you for your losses. This means that you cannot go back to court and sue if, later down the road, you realize you need more money to treat your injuries. Remember, once you agree to a settlement, you will release the defendant from any additional liability for the accident.
For this reason, you need to get a fair settlement the first time. We will stay in close contact with you throughout the claims process and never agree to a settlement unless we have your approval.
Types of Car Accident Injury Claims We Will Take On
Since 1989, our car accident attorneys in Toledo have been investigating collisions like yours and filing winning claims. We know how to find the evidence we need to win. You can rely on our dedicated and detail-oriented team to file a strong claim after an accident caused by any of the following forms of negligence:
- Distracted driving: According to the National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving behaviors such as texting, making calls, and adjusting GPS settings result in more than 430,000 injuries and over 3,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.
- Aggressive driving: Speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, and making improper turns are all aggressive driving behaviors that are in violation of the traffic code and result in an increase in car accidents.
- Drowsy driving: The NHTSA has long recognized falling asleep behind the wheel or using poor judgment due to fatigue as a contributing cause in car accidents and injuries. However, drowsy driving is beginning to gain national attention with social media campaigns and increased public awareness.
- Defective auto parts: Sometimes, accidents are caused by defective or poorly designed vehicle components. If we suspect that your crash was caused by faulty brakes or a defective truck part, we’ll work with engineering experts and gather the necessary evidence.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Despite increased laws and penalties, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that drunk driving continues to be a factor in as many as one-third of all fatal car accidents in the state.
Different types of truck accident injury claims require other resources and expert witnesses. We can draw on our firm’s extensive experience, connections, and resources to win your case, no matter what caused your crash.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Toledo
Even a minor car accident can result in major injuries that prevent you from working or engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy. Some common car accident injuries will also require ongoing care and treatment, resulting in costly medical bills.
Our Toledo car accident lawyers have represented countless car crash victims. We’ve seen nearly every type of injury, including catastrophic injuries and lasting conditions. We know how to work with medical professionals to calculate how much compensation you need to afford current and future treatment. We can seek damages for any of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Muscle and tendon sprains, strains, and tears
- Dislocated joints
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Paralysis
- Burn injuries
- Contusions
- Amputations
- Soft-tissue injuries
In the aftermath of any car accident, regardless of how minor, seek medical attention immediately. You may have serious injuries that are not readily apparent, and failing to get the medical care you need could dramatically worsen your condition.
Steps to Take After a Crash
Under Ohio’s motor vehicle laws, all drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. In the event of an accident, they are required to share information with other drivers regarding their insurance, contact information, driver’s license, and vehicle registration number.
Follow these steps if you are involved in an accident:
- Notify the police at the scene of the accident.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers.
- Get medical care for any injuries you suffer.
- Take photos of vehicle damage and your injuries.
- Speak to eyewitnesses and take down their contact information.
- Report the incident to your insurance company right away, regardless of whether you or the other driver is at fault.
How Does Car Accident Liability Work in Toledo?
You can only hold a party liable for an automobile accident if you can prove that they were at fault for the crash. In Ohio, this is generally done by proving that the other party was negligent.
In simple terms, negligence is the failure to take proper care when performing an action. In many car accident cases, applying negligence can become very complicated, and fierce disputes can arise.
The following are the four required elements that must be established to hold the at-fault driver liable:
- Duty: A duty of care is a legal responsibility to look out for the safety of others. Proving this element is relatively simple in Ohio car accident cases. It is well accepted that all drivers within the state must look out for the safety of other people on the roads.
- Breach: We will also need to prove that the defendant’s actions deviated from the required standard of care. In a car accident case, a breach of the duty of care can come in many different forms. We can use evidence of speeding, drunk driving, and other reckless driving behaviors to establish a breach.
- Causation: Proving that another driver breached their duty of care is not necessarily enough to prove that they are liable for your accident. You must also prove that there is causation between their breach and your injuries. Our car accident attorneys in Toledo will use strong evidence to connect the driver’s breach and your injuries.
- Damages: Finally, you can only make a recovery if you can prove your damages. Our team will use medical bills, vehicle repair invoices, and other forms of evidence to show that you deserve compensation for the losses you’ve suffered due to the crash.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits in Toledo, Ohio
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, there is a two-year statute of limitations for car accident injury cases. This means that you must bring your claim within two years, or you will lose the ability to do so. You have only one year if the at-fault driver intentionally caused the crash.
Your case does not need to be resolved within that time frame, but a claim does need to be filed. Ultimately, you do not want this issue to be relevant in your case at all. The best thing you can do is to take immediate action after your accident. If you have been seriously injured in a crash, you should contact our experienced Toledo car accident lawyers today.
Toledo Car Accident FAQs
Can I Receive Compensation if I Am the Victim of a Hit and Run?
Yes. If you have uninsured motorist insurance, then you can make a claim on your policy, which should pay out benefits if you are victimized in a hit-and-run. Although it is illegal to leave the scene of a crash, hundreds of people do that every year.
If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage, then your options are more limited. You can use your health insurance to pay for medical benefits, but you won’t receive compensation for lost wages.
Who Pays for Damages After a Car Accident in Toledo?
Ohio maintains a traditional tort liability system of insurance and requires that its drivers carry liability insurance. This means that after an accident, rather than turning to one’s own insurance company for compensation, drivers must either file a claim with their own insurance company under their collision coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Filing a claim with medical payments coverage, filing a claim against the liability coverage of the at-fault driver, or filing a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver are also options. Our Toledo car accident attorneys will identify the actual party and pursue full compensation for you.
What Happens in Cases of Shared Fault?
Car accidents aren’t always 100% the fault of a single driver. As such, if fault is shared amongst another party and yourself, you may still be able to recoup damages from the party who was mostly at fault for your accident and injuries, but the rule of comparative fault will apply.
This rule holds that you can still recover damages from another party, assuming that they were more at fault for the accident than you were, but that your compensation award will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. So, if you were 10% at fault for the accident, your recoverable damages award will be reduced by 10%.
What if the Other Driver Did Not Have Insurance?
If you were seriously injured by an uninsured motorist, you may be left feeling extremely stressed out. While you are still entitled to seek financial compensation from that driver, the vast majority of the time, these drivers do not have enough assets to cover your damages.
The good news is that you still have legal options. Many Ohio drivers carry insurance policies that include some coverage for the damages caused by uninsured motorists. If this is an issue in your case, it is especially important that you get your case in the hands of a skilled attorney as soon as possible.
How Will My Attorney Investigate the Accident?
Proving negligence is never easy. For one thing, drivers will probably not admit that they were talking on the phone or daydreaming when they rammed into your vehicle. Instead, your Toledo car accident attorney will need to find other helpful evidence.
Your lawyer can investigate the crash and find evidence that shows the other driver was at fault. Our team will conduct a detailed investigation of the collision, making sure to take the following steps to strengthen your personal injury claim:
- Investigate witnesses to the accident, including any passengers in the vehicles that were involved
- Ask questions of the other driver under oath, as we might be able to get the driver to admit to being negligent behind the wheel
- Search for surveillance video, which might have captured the accident
- Subpoena cell phone records, which could show that the other driver was on their phone when the accident occurred
- Study damage to the vehicles, as this type of damage often yields important clues about how the accident unfolded
If I Was a Passenger in a Wreck, Can I Sue the Driver?
Yes, in most cases, you can bring a lawsuit as an injured passenger. Drivers owe a duty of care to their passengers, just as they owe a duty to strangers on the road around them. If the driver’s negligence injures you, you might be able to request compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Trusted Car Accident Lawyers in Toledo
Car accident injuries can have lasting ramifications. Get the legal help you need to get the compensation you deserve. We serve Toledo, Bowling Green, Findlay, and all of the surrounding areas, and are available to assist you.
Contact Groth & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated car accident lawyer in Toledo. We’ll meet with you to discuss your accident and injuries, answer any questions you have about filing a claim for compensation, and explain what our team will do to get the best results possible for you.
Call or text (419) 930-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
