Vehicle Accident Frequently Asked Questions

As of this date (10/2019) it is not illegal to talk on your phone or handheld device while driving in Ohio. To learn of other non-illegal actions permitted with a handheld device, such as using navigation, calling 911, and more, read more here

"Distracted driving in Ohio is defined as any activity drivers do that may divert their attention from driving. Thus, all driving distraction increases drivers' odds of getting involved in a car crash." "...passengers, food and music were among the biggest distractors reported by drivers, making up more than half of all distracted drivers and 49% of all fatal crashes resulting from distractions in 2017." https://www.dmv.com/oh/ohio/distracted-driving-laws

If you are in an auto accident the very first thing you should do is seek immediate medical attention if this is needed or in question. Even in a minor accident with little injury to the vehicles, people may sustain various types of injuries. Read more here.

Many people do not initially feel pain or discomfort at the scene of an accident but that night or in the following day or days to come can develop significant pain, often in the neck or back. It is also possible to sustain a concussion in the crash and not have immediate symptoms. Pay close attention to how you are feeling and it is always best to be on the safe side and see your doctor.

•Call the police
•Obtain whatever evidence and information you can such as names and contact information of witnesses, photos of the vehicles, police report, etc.
•Contact an attorney
•If you experience any pain or discomfort in the next few days contact your primary care physician who may well have you go to the hospital for testing.
Find more information here.

In general that is the best policy and what I would recommend.

You take a big risk when you do this. Sometimes the "nicest" people can later deny there was an accident and refuse to take any responsibility. I recently had a case like this and when I contacted the at-fault party's insurance they literally said the accident "never happened." Luckily we had enough evidence and alternate proofs to eventually settle this claim, but it made it more difficult.

There are a number of reasons why you are better off having an attorney involved if you or your passenger are hurt in a car crash. An experienced car accident attorney can help guide you through the oftentimes complicated legal maze and will guide you in handling medical bills. Lastly, statistics show higher settlements when an attorney is advocating for the injured party. Find more information here.

Insurance companies would prefer that you not have an attorney because the statistics show that they pay less money if an attorney is not involved. For example, an insurance company may offer you $4,000 to settle your claim and you might think that is sufficient to cover your medical bills and you wouldn't need to pay an attorney fee. However, statistics show that you will do better if you involve an attorney who has expertise in car accidents and personal injury litigation. Almost always I have been able to negotiate a higher settlement amount, and many times I have been able to negotiate with health care providers to take less money for a given treatment bill, again, putting more money back into the client's portion of the settlement. Read more here.

Insurance companies are trying to settle the car accident claim for the least amount of money possible. An experienced car accident attorney deals with these types of claims routinely and not only can recognize the best value of your case, but will advocate on your behalf for the best possible settlement. Read more here.

Navigating the onslaught of medical bills following an injury in a car accident can be overwhelming as well as intimidating. An experienced car accident attorney can guide you as to how to handle these bills and which ones to pay. At times I will contact the medical provider's billing department to avoid having them send particular bills to collections which could hurt my client's credit rating. Sometimes your car accident attorney will also negotiate a lower bill with the medical provider as well. So for all of these reasons it is best to involve an attorney from the get go. Read more here.

Many people say, "I'm not the suing type; I don't want to go to trial!" However, the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of personal injury cases resulting from all types of motor vehicle accidents result in a settlement, usually without needing to file a lawsuit or take the case to trial. Those auto accident injury cases where it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit are almost always settled out of court and do not go to trial.

It is helpful to bring a copy of the auto accident report (if you have it), any photos, any witness statements, medical bills, your insurance information, the liable party's name and insurance information, and a timeline of all medical treatment including physician's name, facility, and what treatment was done. The more information you can bring to the meeting, the better, but obviously it can be gathered after the initial consultation as well. Read more about vehicle accidents here.

It's a good idea to get a personal injury attorney involved early on after an auto accident to help you sort through the legal maze, know how to relate to the insurance company, and to avoid being under the gun with statute of limitation deadlines.

According to Ohio Law: "Statute of Limitations for Auto Accidents. In Ohio, the statute of limitations is found in Revised Code Section 2305.10. Under Section 2305.10, any lawsuit based on personal bodily injury, product liability, or damage to personal property must be brought within two years from the date the cause of action accrues. Sep 1, 2017"

Insurance companies will often press people to settle quickly following an auto accident. This is a bad idea since often times you do not know the full extent of your medical treatment required. Once you settle the case, you will sign a document releasing the insurance company of any further compensation for injuries stemming from the accident. Therefore, except for rare circumstances, my clients will always complete all medical treatment before settlement. Learn more here.

Often times the larger firms will hand your injury case over to a new and inexperienced attorney. They may also contract for a larger portion of your settlement for their attorney fee. I will handle your case from beginning to end, treating you as an individual, and using my 30+ years of expertise in personal injury cases to negotiate the highest possible settlement.

This is a state by state ruling. In Ohio, motorcyclists age 17 and younger are required to wear helmets.

If you are hit by a car as a pedestrian you should always go to the Emergency Room for evaluation and any necessary treatment. If your injuries are not severe enough to require transportation by ambulance, it would be best to have another person transport you.

No matter if the pedestrian is doing something illegal or foolish, he or she always has the right of way. If a driver needs to come to a complete stop in order to prevent striking a pedestrian, then, by all means the driver should do so.

Bicycles, whether motorized or not, are considered vehicles according to Ohio law. Therefore, the bicyclist would be considered a motor vehicle operator and not a pedestrian.

The first and most important thing to do is to call 911 and seek medical evaluation and care. If there is someone with you who can help you do these things and also take some photos, that would be of help. Learn more here.

If you were at fault in the crash, you likely would not be able to bring a claim against the other driver. On the other hand, you may well have a claim for your injuries if:
The other party was at fault.
There is a question as to who was at fault.
There is a question whether both parties had some fault.
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Absolutely! You may well have an injury claim . Learn more here: Steps to Take After a Car Accident

If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident as a passenger you need to get the medical care you require. The best way to ensure that your treatment is covered is to get an attorney involved. I cannot say for sure whether or not your friend's rates will increase. This depends on the insurance company as well as a number of factors.

While it is certainly true that the vast majority of times it is the rear driver at fault in a rear-end collision, there are some occasions where the lead driver may be at fault. Some of these reasons would include: lead car brake lights are out, lead car pulls out unsafely in front of you, or they change lanes unsafely. Obtaining a witness at the scene of the accident would be very important to help prove these claims.

Many rear-end auto accidents involve multiple cars in a chain reaction scenario and the liability may be complicated or difficult to prove. In general, it is the driver who first strikes the rear end of the vehicle in front of him/her who is at fault. It is possible, however, for multiple drivers to be cited in this type of auto accident and very often the stories of the various drivers are in conflict. Keeping an assured clear distance of the vehicle in front of you is the best way to avoid this type of accident.

This is a legal term which basically states that you are responsible to operate your motor vehicle at a speed and distance from the car in front of you where you can stop before striking it if they were to stop suddenly. This is a very common cause of motor vehicle accidents .

While there are complicated formulas to calculate this, two simple methods are: the two second rule, and one car length for every 10 mph. The two second rule is simply counting 2 seconds from the time the car in front of you passes a given landmark. You are not to pass the same landmark before the count of two seconds. The other method is to estimate one car length for every 10 mph. So if you are traveling 60 mph it will require approximately 6 car lengths for you to bring your vehicle to a stop without striking the driver in front of you should they stop suddenly.

The number one cause of motor vehicle accidents in the US is now distracted driving. After that, drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, hazardous weather conditions , hydroplaning , and nighttime driving are the next causes in respective order.