Every car accident case is different, and an attorney’s usefulness will depend on your unique situation. While no attorney can promise that retaining legal counsel is guaranteed to get you compensation after an accident, some victims choose to hire an attorney because it gives them comfort moving forward with their cases. For example, knowing that there is a lawyer or a team of lawyers working on your case, you may be able to spend more time focusing on recovery and getting back to work.
After all, the field of Columbus personal injury law can prove to be confusing for some, especially those attempting to take legal action after suffering traumatic injuries. Ultimately, the presence of an attorney can allow you to attend to more important aspects of your life—like your health or family—while the attorneys dedicate themselves to your legal battle.
When asking if it is better to get a lawyer for a car accident, you may gain a clearer perspective by speaking with a law firm in your area. For this reason, many car accident lawyers provide risk-free, complimentary consultations for potential clients.
Types of Compensation You Can Receive From a Car Accident Settlement
While specific legislation on damages varies from state to state, recoverable damages are generally broken into three categories to encompass a victim’s losses:
- Economic Damages: These damages include any financial losses you have faced, such as property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. Generally, there will be hard proof of these damages in the form of bills and receipts.
- Non-Economic Damages: Alternatively, these damages are harder to define, as they are usually intangible. For example, non-economic damages can include “pain and suffering” and emotional distress due to your injuries and hardships. Other non-economic damages can include mental illness, loss of consortium, and damage to your reputation.
- Punitive Damages: Unlike other forms of compensation, a jury may only award punitive damages if they believe there is extreme recklessness or malice occurred. By awarding punitive damages to victims of extreme injustice, the court hopes this will disallow the general public from repeating the dangerous behavior.
Calculating Compensation for a Car Accident
Juries and courts award compensation based on the evidence you present. This can include appraisals on:
- Property damage
- Vehicle damage
- Hospital stays
- Prescriptions
- Medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
If you have a personal injury lawyer, they will work to present documentation of your losses, thereby assigning a value to your case. In some cases, your attorney may choose to multiply these losses several times over to reflect past and future expenses. A personal injury attorney’s goal is to secure fair compensation for your accident-related losses so that you can access the medical treatment you need to rebuild your life.
Dealing With Insurance Companies Can Get Complicated
Insurance companies may try to undervalue or deny accident claims for a variety of reasons. For example, an insurance company may take a recorded statement from an accident victim and take their words out of context. Insurance adjusters may try to shift more of the blame onto the accident victim afterward.
Instead of hassling with insurance companies, a lawyer can handle your personal injury claim from start to finish. This service includes gathering evidence to support your claim, such as police reports, and managing all communication with the liable parties. Personal injury attorneys are familiar with the tactics insurers use and can protect you from questionable practices, as well.
How Long You Have to Collect Damages From a Car Accident
In every state, you will not be able to recover damages if you wait too long to file a lawsuit for compensation. Each state dictates its allotted amount of time for victims to take legal action.
Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.10 dictates a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, starting on the day your injuries occurred. If you are looking to file a lawsuit after losing a loved one in a wrongful death case, ORC §2125.02 details a similar two-year time limit.
We Will Be
There To Help
You All The Way
Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
After years of serving victims all over the State of Ohio, we know how much you may lose in a car accident. That is why the attorneys at The Fitch Law Firm LLC have made it our goal to help you fight for what you deserve.
We will take the time to gather evidence surrounding every aspect of your case, from investigating the accident to documenting your damages to researching the laws that govern the court’s decision. In doing so, we hope to present a clear picture of what happened in your accident. We also hope to show the court the value of your case in order to win a just award.
If you are still wondering if it is better to get a lawyer for a car accident or if you have any other questions, contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC today for your free consultation.
