At Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers, we offer free legal consultations. During this meeting/call, we will discuss all relevant issues and facts pertaining to your case. The free consultation is an opportunity for you to obtain reliable legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney. Call us or click here to get a free legal consultation.
When you or a loved one suffers a personal injury, the ramifications can be devastating. You will have medical bills that need to be paid, you may need to miss work for treatment or recovery, there could be property damage, and you are under a lot of emotional stress. Hiring a personal injury attorney ensures that there is a qualified and experienced legal professional who is ready to protect your rights and obtain the compensation you are entitled to. Trying to pursue a claim yourself is never a good idea, and insurance companies know that claims that aren’t backed up by legal representation are a lot less threatening. If you need to hire a personal injury attorney, click here to contact us.
There is no simple answer. The length of your case depends on a number of factors. The extent of your injuries is the biggest. The most important part of this situation is your health, and there should be no discussion regarding settling or resolving your case until you are fully healthy and recovered. Many cases are settled before they go to trial, but sometimes it is necessary to file a lawsuit in order to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Do not ever talk to an insurance adjuster after an accident. They will ask you questions that will enable them to deny or minimize your case. They will also want to record the conversation. Never agree to give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster, even if they tell you it is necessary. Always talk to an attorney first. Learn more about insurance adjusters tactics to minimize your claims.
No. You should not release your medical information to the insurance company until you have spoken to an experienced personal injury attorney. Allowing your medical information/history to get into the insurance company’s hands can be detrimental to your claim.
No. Insurance companies will typically reach out to you soon after the accident to try and obtain a recorded statement from you regarding the situation related to your injury. It is never a good idea to give a recorded statement without consulting with legal counsel first. Simply advise the insurance company that you are still shaken up and recovering from your injury—and are not ready to give a recorded statement.
You should always try to use your medical insurance to cover your medical treatment after an accident occurs because there is no way of knowing how quickly the case will settle against the alleged negligent party. After your case has settled or a verdict has been rendered, your medical insurance will be paid back through what is called subrogation. In other words, part of your final settlement or verdict will go to the insurance carrier that paid your bills initially. They have a legal right to recover what they initially paid for the medical treatment.
Understanding how long it will take a personal injury case to be resolved can be complicated to answer. No two cases are the same, and there are various factors that can go into the timeline, including length of time a client is treating for. Cases that are handled through insurance carriers at the level of a claim will typically be resolved quicker, however, if it is necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit, it could take months or even more than a year to resolve. A skilled personal injury attorney will know the most efficient ways to handle your case to receive maximum compensation in a reasonable amount of time. For more details on the personal injury case, click here.
Under Ohio law, personal injury victims have two years from the date their injury occurs to file a lawsuit against an alleged negligent party. If it has been less than two years since the date of your injury, then you still have time to file a personal injury claim. If it has been more than two years, we likely will not be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. There are some exceptions to these limitations, so please speak with one of our personal injury attorneys as soon as possible. Learn more about how the filing of the complaint process works.
Once you are represented by an attorney, most personal injury cases are settled with just the insurance carrier, and a lawsuit is not necessary. However, if the insurance carrier of the at-fault party refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies a claim altogether, the only recourse may be to file a lawsuit in civil court against the alleged negligent party.
The vast majority of claims settle at the level of a claim. But if the claim cannot be settled fairly and a lawsuit needs to be filed, once depositions are conducted and interrogatories are answered, a majority of cases in litigation settle, as well. Most cases do not end up in an actual trial, though we are absolutely prepared to put on a case in front of a jury if need be. It is always the client’s decision to file a suit or go to trial after we discuss everything in detail and then give you our best advice.
Litigation costs are basically court reporters, videographers, expert reports, and fees the experts charge for testifying. That last one is the expensive one, which is why those are not conducted until right before trial, after everything else has been exhausted in the way of settlement. At Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers, we advance all costs on cases, and you do not have to repay them back if there is no settlement.
Expert opinions are the evidence we need to prove your case to insurance companies and defense lawyers. They take notice of what an expert opines, puts in a report, and is willing to back up in a deposition. The expert documents everything, from how the accident happened to the future damages you will suffer. Although expert reports can be expensive, they are worth the expense if they are necessary to prove your case. Expert opinions matter, and they buttress your claim of permanency and future medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages – past and future. This evidence drives the value of cases. Expert reports are invaluable to the case because they provide the credibility and expertise needed to help secure the compensation you are entitled to.
You’re the client, you hired us, you decide ultimately through the claim and litigation process when you want to settle, or if we ultimately proceed to trial. We will always recommend the best course of action for your case every step of the way. But it is always the client’s decision after we give you our best advice.
In Ohio, victims of personal injury claims have two years from the date the injury occurs to file a lawsuit. Although this is typically the case, there are certain situations where you may have additional time. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to find out if it is too late.