Dayton Car Accident Attorney
How our Dayton Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Dealing with a car accident is stressful in any situation. However, it’s even worse when the crash wasn’t your fault and the other side isn’t cooperating. The Dayton car accident attorneys with Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law are here to protect your rights during the personal injury claim process with insurance companies and defendants trying to prevent you from recovering fair and maximum compensation.
Contact us today for a free case review to learn more about your rights.
Compensation Available in Ohio Car Crashes
If you are injured in a car crash, you may be able to recover compensation for the economic and non-economic losses you have suffered. Car accident compensation might provide payment for:
- Medical expenses, including payment for future care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Costs to repair or replace your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability or scarring
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in Ohio
In general, the statute of limitations for car accidents in Ohio is two years from the accident date. If you fail to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver within this timeframe, you can be barred from seeking relief through the court system. Don’t let this happen to you. Contact an experienced car accident attorney to preserve your rights.
Dealing With the Insurance Company After a Car Accident
Despite the heartwarming advertisements about how insurance companies will be there for us when we need them, it is critical to understand that insurance companies’ interests are directly opposed to yours as an accident victim. You want to recover fair compensation to pay for the medical bills, lost wages, and other losses you experienced because of someone else’s negligence. The insurance company wants to minimize payouts to protect its profit margin.
This inherent conflict may incentivize the insurance company to take the following questionable tactics:
- Contacting car accident victims soon after an accident to try to get them to say they’re fine or minimize their injuries
- Trying to get drivers to admit fault for the accident
- Telling claimants that they must give a recorded statement to the insurer for them to process the insurance claim
- Sending medical record request forms to try to uncover any pre-existing condition to deny the insurance claim
- Offering a fast settlement before claimants can calculate the full extent of their damages
- Making blanket denials of claims without investigating the case
- Intentionally delaying claims so that accident victims get desperate and accept a lower settlement or give up altogether
- Telling claimants that they do not need a lawyer
As experienced Dayton car accident attorneys, we are familiar with these and other insurance tactics. We can protect your rights and ensure you are treated fairly.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Dayton, Ohio are:
- Distracted driving – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attributed more than 3,500 traffic fatalities in one recent year to distracted driving.
- Speeding – Drivers may be late to work or an appointment, in a hurry to get to a destination, or driving too fast for conditions, which can increase the likelihood of causing a crash.
- Running red lights and stop signs – The NHTSA reports that approximately 40 percent of automobile accidents occur at intersections because they run red lights or stop signs.
- Impaired driving – More than 16,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving impaired drivers in one recent year.
- Drowsy driving – Some studies have shown that drowsy driving, in which a driver is sleepy or exhausted, might be just as dangerous as impaired driving.
- Aggressive driving – Aggressive driving behaviors like excessive speeding, weaving in and out of lanes, “brake checking,” and intentionally violating traffic laws can put other motorists in danger.
An experienced Dayton car accident lawyer from Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law can investigate the accident and identify the causes and parties responsible for it.
Injuries Commonly Sustained in Car Accidents
Some of the most common car accident injuries victims sustain include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Shoulder injuries
- Facial injuries
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Soft tissue injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
What to Do After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault
Ohio is an at-fault state for car insurance, meaning that the driver at fault for the accident is responsible for paying the damages they caused. However, drivers and insurance companies are unlikely to quickly admit fault and try to make things right for you.
Here are some steps you can take to protect your health and car accident claim:
- Check for injuries on yourself and others involved in the accident. If anyone was injured, call 911.
- Make sure everyone is out of the way of danger to avoid any secondary injuries.
- Call the police and report the accident to get an official report you can provide to the insurance company for your car accident claim.
- Exchange information with the other driver and request their name, address, phone number, insurance company policy, and their vehicle’s identifying information.
- Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and damage to all vehicles involved. Also, note whether there are any nearby traffic cameras or surveillance cameras.
- Seek medical attention and look for symptoms that may take time to develop. A doctor can ask questions and conduct tests to identify all your accident-related injuries.
- Keep all the accident records and provide them to your Dayton car accident lawyer, including the following.
- Consult with an experienced car accident attorney to handle the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on recovery.
Get in Touch with an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Dayton, OH Today
If you were in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you likely have questions and concerns. The Dayton car accident lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, we are here to provide you with dedicated legal assistance and support. We offer a free consultation so you can discuss your case in detail with one of our experienced Dayton personal injury attorneys. Contact us today for help.