Last updated on November 23rd, 2023
According to the Cincinnati police department, there were 1,323 car crashes in the city in a recent month. A typical car accident in Cincinnati results in either property damage, bodily injury, or fatality.
Unfortunately, victims of car accidents face the consequences of the collision. They endure mounting medical bills, lost wages, permanent disability, loss of loved ones, and pain and suffering.
While some victims get compensation through insurance, others don’t receive assistance. If you’ve been involved in a vehicle collision, consult a Cincinnati car accident attorney about your legal options.
No one expects to be involved in an accident, which can happen in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, most people are unprepared and need help knowing what to do once an accident occurs.
Here’s a brief of what you can do in case of an accident:
Stop the car as soon as possible— driving off after an accident is a criminal offense. Then, turn off the engine and switch on the hazard lights. In addition, determine whether anyone is injured, including yourself and passengers.
If there are injuries, call 911 to get an ambulance and request the police to come to the scene. Although the damage might be minor, calling the police is necessary in some states. In addition, the police will generate a report that the insurance company will rely on to process the claim.
If the vehicle is still operative, park on the shoulder of the road to avoid being hit by oncoming cars. If the vehicle is in danger of fire or explosion, get everyone away to a safe place off the road.
You’re only required to exchange your name and insurance information with the other driver involved in the accident. Limiting the interaction with the other driver is recommended to avoid blaming the other party or admitting guilt after the incident.
If possible, collect the following information:
It helps to document the scene of the accident carefully.
Here’s a list of everything you should capture:
A few of the factors to consider when deciding whether or not to file an insurance claim include the following:
Here are scenarios that highlight the need to file an insurance claim:
File an insurance claim if the vehicle is damaged in a single-vehicle accident. The collision coverage will cater to most repairs, less the deductible. The compressive coverage will cover the damage if you hit a deer or other animal.
You should always file an insurance claim when someone is injured. If multiple people are involved in the accident, obtain each person’s ID and insurance information. Liability coverage caters to injury-related costs if you’re at fault.
You should always file a claim if you damage someone else’s vehicle in a significant collision when you’re at fault. If the other driver is at fault and offers to pay out-of-caution, proceed with caution because you can easily underestimate the cost of repairs.
No specific deadline determines the precise moment to file an insurance claim. However, it varies with the insurance policy. Most policies offer a window, say 30-60 day period.
For the best outcome, consider filing an insurance claim as soon after the accident happens or within a reasonable time frame.
If you decide not to file a claim, inform your insurance provider because the other driver may file a claim without you knowing.
Victims of car accidents face the brute force of mounting medical bills, loss of livelihood, death, and pain and suffering. If you’re dealing with the effects of a car accident, you might not be sure whether to hire a lawyer.
Even so, hiring an experienced car accident attorney is always beneficial, even if your losses are minimal.
Here are a few reasons why hiring a car accident attorney will help your case:
The strength of your claim depends on the available evidence. For instance, the picture of the scene, police report, or witness report can help prove fault. If you struggle to get some evidence, e.g., video footage, a lawyer can engage a few experts to retrieve it.
You’ll also benefit by working with a car accident attorney because they’re highly knowledgeable and experienced when dealing with insurance companies. Insurers always try to offer low settlement amounts and delegitimize valid insurance claims.
If you hire an experienced car accident attorney, they will negotiate with an insurance company for an offer that accounts for your losses. A lawyer also knows the tricks to deal with the most stubborn insurance adjusters because they’ve spent hundreds of hours in similar cases.
As such, working with a Cincinnati car accident attorney is the right approach to ensure you receive every last coin you deserve.
Once a car accident happens, you want to solve the matter immediately. As such, many people rush through the legal process and may accept the first offer tabled by the insurer or at-fault party.
Unfortunately, rushing through the legal process could cause you to leave money on the table. You may not receive fair compensation if you engage the at-fault party or the insurance company without legal aid.
If you were involved in a car accident and suffered a spinal cord injury, your life may become unbearable. In addition to pain and suffering, you’ll incur additional expenses, including mounting medical bills, loss of livelihood, and diminished enjoyment of life.
With that in mind, consider working with an experienced Cincinnati car accident attorney to help you improve your chances for fair compensation.
Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz is a team of highly trained and experienced attorneys dedicated to helping car accident victims since 1991.
Contact us online or call us at 1.937.222.2222 for a free case evaluation.
For your own sake, the very first thing you should do is remain at the scene of the accident – you’re breaking the law if you leave. Check for injuries, and then get out of the way of danger. See more steps to take following an accident here.
The most common car accident injuries include whiplash, soft tissue injuries, lacerations, broken bones, burns, neck and back injuries, concussion and TBI, internal bleeding, and more.
Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal in Cincinnati. You’ll have 24 hours following the accident to tell police of the time, location, and extent of the damage. Check all related to hit-and-run accidents.
A drunk driving accident occurs with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Further details regarding fault and potential consequences can be found here.
At a minimum, Ohio requires $25,000 for bodily injury coverage for one individual, $50,000 for bodily injury for two or more individuals, and $25,000 for property damage. See more about the insurance requirements in Cincinnati.
For a claim alleging negligence by another, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury (2 years) applies. If the motorcycle accident was caused by a defective product, then the law gives a 10-year statute of repose from the date the manufacturer first sold the product. Read more here about Ohio motorcycle accident law.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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