When Can You File a Personal Injury Claim in Ohio?
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Ohio, you may be entitled to recover just compensation for all of your accident-related losses. This includes not only your medical bills and any repair costs but also your lost income, pain and suffering, and all other forms of financial and non-financial harm.
Recovering your losses after an accident involves filing a personal injury claim. So, how do you know if you have grounds to file?
Do You Have a Personal Injury Claim?
Determining if you have a personal injury claim can be challenging. It requires a thorough investigation, and you will need a lawyer to evaluate the facts of your case in light of Ohio law. With that said, accident victims are entitled to financial compensation in many cases. You should speak with a personal injury lawyer if:
1. You Were Injured in an Accident
Ohio’s personal injury laws cover all types of accidents. If you have been injured in any type of accident, a personal injury lawyer may be able to file a claim on your behalf. This includes (but is not limited to) common accidents such as:
- Auto accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Dog attacks
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Truck accidents
2. The Accident Wasn’t Your Fault
To file a personal injury claim, you will need to be able to prove that the accident wasn’t your fault (or, at least, it wasn’t primarily your fault). If you believe that a negligent driver, dog owner, property owner or business is responsible for your injuries, it will be worth speaking with a lawyer about your situation.
3. There Is Evidence of Liability
When you speak with a lawyer, one of your lawyer’s first priorities will be determining what evidence is available. Knowing that the accident wasn’t your fault and proving that it wasn’t your fault are different matters entirely. If you have photos, videos or any other evidence, you will want to share these during your initial consultation. These will help your lawyer determine what additional steps are necessary to gather evidence of liability.
4. You Still Have Time to File
In most cases, you have up to two years after an accident to file a personal injury claim under Ohio law. If it has been more than two years since your accident, it may be too late to recover just compensation. If you think you still have time to file (or if you aren’t sure), you should speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
5. You Haven’t Settled with the Insurance Companies
Finally, it is important that you haven’t already settled with the insurance companies. If you have, you may have waived your right to seek additional compensation. If you are currently dealing with the insurance companies, you will want to contact a lawyer promptly so that your lawyer can start dealing with them on your behalf.
Request a Free Consultation with a Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer
Do you need to know more about filing a personal injury claim in Ohio? If so, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation. Please call 888-444-7440 or contact us online to request an appointment at Malek & Malek Law Firm in Columbus, OH.