Being involved in any type of accident can be stressful, but it can be even more so if that accident results from someone’s negligent or wrongful actions. Fortunately, under Ohio law, you could be eligible to seek compensation for the losses your accident caused through filing a personal injury claim.
At Oliver Law Office, our Gahanna personal injury lawyers have decades of experience helping the people of Franklin County get the assistance they need after an accident. Whether you experienced a car crash or were injured due to medical malpractice, contact us today to learn how our women-led firm can help you.
In Ohio, personal injury claims fall under the purview of civil law. This means you won’t be starting criminal proceedings that can result in jail time or other punishments by filing a personal injury claim. The only penalties the defendant will receive as a result of a civil claim are financial in nature.
In most personal injury cases, you need to prove that negligence led to the accident that caused your injuries. To do so, your lawyer has to establish that the person owed you a duty of care and that they breached it.
For example, a driver traveling down I-270 has the responsibility, or duty of care, toward everyone else on the highway to operate their vehicle safely and to obey all traffic laws. If the driver is distracted by their phone or speeding, they break the law and breach their responsibility to others.
As part of proving negligence, you have to show that the breach of responsibility caused your injuries and that you can receive compensation for them. If a driver was speeding and didn’t have enough time to stop to avoid colliding with your vehicle, the resulting injuries that require medical care can prove negligence.
In some instances, however, negligence isn’t the legal theory. For example, product liability and dog bite claims fall under strict liability laws. Strict liability requires that you show the defendant should have reasonably anticipated that their product or animal could cause harm. You then have to show that you suffered injuries for which you can be compensated.
In Ohio, personal injury claims have time limits you must abide by, called the statute of limitations. You have up to two years to file for most personal injury claims, but that’s not always the case. Malpractice claims only provide one year from the injury or from when you discover the injury.
You may have even more limits if the defendant is a government entity. Because of the complexities of these claims, it’s important to contact Oliver Law Office right away to find out which deadlines apply to your case.
Our skilled team at Oliver Law Office has extensive experience in a number of personal injury practice areas, from car accidents to wrongful death. Some of the areas we most frequently represent include the following.
In 2022 alone, 1,275 people lost their lives in traffic accidents throughout Ohio, and many more suffered serious injuries that resulted in medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our team represents victims of all types of traffic collisions, including:
Even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you may have the chance to recover damages in Ohio. Keep in mind that your fault has to be below 51%. We can help you determine your eligibility for damages through a car accident claim.
Strict liability laws allow you to file a claim against the owner of a dog if the animal bites you without having to prove negligence. You only need to show that you were legally on the property at the time of the attack and that you didn’t provoke the dog.
Because Ohio sees dogs as an owner’s responsibility, if the animal causes harm, the owner is liable for medical expenses and can be sued in civil court.
Ohio law requires property owners or managers to maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors. They can be held liable if they fail to do so and their negligence results in injuries. Some of the most common examples of incidents that fall under premises liability include slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, and negligent security.
One challenging aspect of these claims is establishing a duty of care. This requires showing why you were on the property, as the degree of duty of care can vary. For example, you’re considered an invitee if you were shopping at a store when you slipped and fell. Property owners have a high duty of care toward invitees.
If you’re considered a licensee, however, the owner has less responsibility toward your safety. All they have to refrain from doing is willfully or recklessly causing you an injury. Trespassers are considered licensees in Ohio.
Medical professionals have a duty of care toward their patients. Sometimes, errors are impossible to avoid, but you can hold them responsible if a healthcare provider commits a mistake because of negligence.
Our lawyers can demonstrate that the healthcare provider failed to take steps to keep you reasonably safe. If any other competent provider could have prevented the injury, you can file a claim.
When you buy any kind of product, you have an expectation that it will be reasonably safe to use. If a product doesn’t function and causes harm, you can file a product liability claim.
Products can have design, manufacturing, or failure-to-warn issues. Design defects are present when the product is thought up, which means they would never have been safe to use. Manufacturing defects refer to products that are designed correctly but experience issues during manufacturing.
A failure-to-warn defect involves the product not having enough warnings about potential risks. A common example is medications that don’t warn patients of potentially dangerous side effects.
If your loved one died because of another person’s negligent conduct, we can hold the responsible party accountable. Wrongful death claims involve situations in which, if the victim had survived, they would have had grounds to file a claim against the defendant.
Our Gahanna personal injury lawyers can help you claim economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury case. Economic damages serve to compensate you for financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. If you need to receive ongoing medical care, compensation for future expenses is also available.
Sometimes, injuries prevent you from returning to work in your regular capacity or at all. If that’s the case, you can claim loss of earning potential.
Non-economic damages focus on compensating you for non-financial losses. These losses can include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and even loss of consortium if your loved one dies.
Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be devastating. You could face significant bills, as well as physical and emotional distress. If the accident resulted from someone else’s negligence, filing a personal injury claim can be essential.
At Oliver Law Office, our seasoned team of Ohio personal injury lawyers can fight for the justice you deserve using strategies tailored to your needs. We can negotiate with insurers and advocate for you in court while you focus on moving forward. Contact us to speak with our dedicated legal team about your options today.
