If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Cincinnati, navigating the aftermath can be overwhelming. At Slater & Zurz, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a car accident can take on you and your family. Our Cincinnati car accident lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve for your injuries.
With over 32 years of experience, we’ve helped countless individuals recover from their accidents, focusing on getting them the maximum compensation possible. Whether dealing with insurance companies, understanding the common causes of car accidents in Cincinnati, or exploring the types of damages you can collect, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Our commitment is to your recovery and ensuring you’re supported throughout this challenging time. Trust in our 32 years of experience to handle your car accident claim in Cincinnati. Get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Road to Recovery: Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable
Every year, about 3.5 million people get hurt in car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Being in a car crash can be really tough. It can cause serious injuries and emotional stress and cost a lot of money. People who get hurt and their families often feel angry and upset, and they deserve justice for their pain.
It’s unfair for careless drivers to risk other people’s health and safety. By filing a claim, these drivers can be made to understand how their actions affect others, and hopefully, they’ll make better choices in the future.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Cincinnati
In Hamilton County, including Cincinnati, there are a lot of car accidents every year. This includes crashes with commercial vehicles and motorcycles and even accidents involving people walking. If a driver is careless and causes an accident, they are at fault. Here are some common reasons for these accidents:
Driver Fatigue: If a driver is really tired, they can’t react well to what’s happening on the road. Sometimes, they might even fall asleep while driving, which can cause them to swerve or drive into oncoming traffic.
Distracted Driving: About 15% of car crashes happen because the driver isn’t paying attention. A big distraction is using a cell phone for talking, texting, emailing, or social media while driving. Other distractions include talking to people in the car, eating, using a GPS, reaching for something, or taking care of kids or pets.
Ignoring Traffic Laws: Roughly 40% of car accidents happen at intersections. This includes running red lights, not stopping at stop signs, or not giving way to other cars, which can lead to serious accidents.
Driving Under the Influence: Driving after taking drugs or drinking alcohol makes it hard to drive safely. The CDC says that nearly 28% of deaths in traffic accidents involve a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Reckless Driving: This includes changing lanes too quickly, weaving through traffic, or following too closely behind other cars. These actions show a lack of care for the safety of others and can even lead to road rage.
Speeding: Driving too fast, whether you’re late, keeping up with other cars, or just speeding on purpose, is one of the top reasons for traffic accidents.
Inexperienced Driver: The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that drivers who are 16 to 17 years old are three times more likely to cause a car accident than older drivers. This is often because they might not pay enough attention, drive too fast, or feel nervous behind the wheel.
Dangerous Road Conditions: Sometimes, the roads themselves are unsafe. This can be because of streetlights that don’t work, broken traffic signals, missing road signs, work zones that aren’t marked well, big potholes, or road lines that are hard to see. These problems can happen when the government doesn’t care for the roads.
For each scenario, determining which driver was responsible for the accident is crucial to establishing liability and seeking a fair settlement offer.
Cincinnati Car Accidents & Injuries
Physical Injuries
When you’re in a car accident, you can get hurt in many different ways. Just like each accident is unique, so are the injuries. After a car accident, our bodies release a lot of adrenaline, which can hide the pain and injuries. That’s why it’s really important to get medical help right away if you’re in a car accident. Securing immediate medical attention after a car accident is vital, not only for your health but also for strengthening your legal claim.
In Cincinnati, hospitals like the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, The Christ Hospital, Mercy Health, and St. Elizabeth Covington see hundreds of different injuries from car accidents.
Some common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Paralysis
- Loss of limb
- Nerve damage
- Knee and hip injuries
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Concussions
- Whiplash
Emotional Trauma
Auto accidents are traumatic events that can lead to long-lasting psychological effects. Being involved in a serious car accident can lead to feelings of panic, stress, and anxiety that can linger long after the collision is over. Emotional trauma caused by a car crash can include:
- PTSD
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear or anxiety about driving
- Irritability
- Difficulty in focusing
- Sleep loss
- Social withdrawal
- Nightmares
- Mood swings
- Startling easily
- Suicidal thoughts
Car accidents are the main reason why people who aren’t in the military get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the United States. After a car accident, you might have tough memories, mood changes, or feel like staying away from people and things. These are all ways that PTSD can affect you emotionally. Getting help right away for PTSD or other emotional troubles can help someone who’s been in a crash feel more at peace and hopeful about the future.
The Financial Burden of a Car Accident
Car accidents can hurt your wallet, especially when dealing with big physical and emotional problems afterward. A car crash can lead to a lot of money troubles, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Costs of future care
- Auto repair or replacement
What Damages Can I Collect?
When you get money for damages after a car accident, it’s to help make things right for you, as much as possible, like how they were before the accident. The amount of money you should get depends on what happened in your case, like how badly you were hurt and how much your stuff was damaged in the accident. If you were in a car accident because someone else wasn’t careful, you have the right to ask for money to help with:
- Medical bills
- Future care, such as physical therapy and in-home care
- Lost wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
Ohio Wrongful Death Compensation
When you lose someone you love in a car accident because of someone else’s carelessness, you have the right to ask for money to help you. This money isn’t just for the injuries your loved one had; it’s also for the pain and sadness you and your family are feeling. Our caring Cincinnati wrongful death lawyer will work really hard for you to get money for things like:
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Loss of income
- Loss of services
- Loss of companionship and society
- Grief and mental anguish
What to Do After an Auto Accident
After a car accident, protecting your rights and ensuring you get all the money you should is important. Sometimes, insurance companies might try to make you agree to less money than you deserve. Here’s what you should do to make sure you get a fair deal:
- Call the Police: After ensuring everyone is safe and helping injured people, call the police. Even for small accidents, it’s good to have the police come and make an official report.
- Give an Accurate Report: Tell the police exactly what happened, where, when, and how. Be honest and don’t make things up, because lying can make it harder for you and your lawyer to prove the other driver was at fault.
- Get Driver Information: Everyone in the accident should share their name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, car details, and insurance information.
- Don’t Apologize: It’s normal to want to say sorry but don’t. Saying you’re sorry can be used against you as if you’re admitting it was your fault.
- Gather Evidence: Take pictures and videos of the accident scene and car damage. Try to get photos before the cars are moved. Look for skid marks, check the weather, and note any property damage.
- Find Witnesses: If anyone saw the accident, their story can help show who caused it.
- Write Everything Down: Write down everything about it as soon as possible after the accident. This helps you remember important details later.
- See a Doctor: Go to a doctor right away to check for injuries, even ones you can’t see. Getting medical help quickly is best for your health.
- Keep Track of All Costs: Save all receipts and records of any costs because of the accident. This includes medical bills, medications, and any equipment you need.
- Stay Off Social Media: Be careful with social media. Insurance companies might examine your posts to find evidence that could contradict your story or accident claims.
- Don’t Talk to the Insurance Adjuster: Insurance companies are looking out for their own interests. It’s better not to talk to them. Let your lawyer handle it.
- Get a Good Lawyer: Dealing with all this after an accident can be tough. A Cincinnati car accident attorney can take care of your legal rights and let you focus on getting better.
How to Determine Fault in a Cincinnati Car Accident
In Ohio, if you’re in a car accident and it’s the other person’s fault, you can ask for money to help with injuries and damage from the crash. Sometimes, more than one thing or person might be to blame for an accident. For example, you could be partly responsible if your tail lights weren’t working and someone hit you from behind.
Ohio has a rule called “comparative negligence.” This means you can still get some money even if you had some part in the accident. If you’re less at fault than the other person, you can still get money, but it’ll be less based on how much at fault you were. For instance, if you’re 30% to blame, and you should get $100,000, you’ll get $70,000.
Insurance companies often try to say you’re partly to blame so they don’t have to pay as much. Our car accident lawyers in Cincinnati, Ohio will work to show you weren’t at fault. We’ll use all kinds of evidence like the police report, what the officer says, what an expert who looks at the crash says, what witnesses say, photos, videos, dashcam footage, security camera footage, and your own story. If you want to make sure you get the most money possible, talk to our car accident lawyers at the Slater & Zurz law firm.
You must file an injury claim lawsuit in Ohio within two years of the car accident. That is why contacting our Cincinnati car accident lawyers at Slater & Zurz immediately at (513) 496-3331 is essential. Acting promptly is vital due to the statute of limitations in Ohio, which limits the time you have to file a claim following your car accident.
The Cincinnati Car Accident Attorneys at Slater & Zurz
After a car accident, things can feel tough, but you’re not alone. Our caring and hard-working car accident attorneys at the Slater & Zurz law firms are here to help and support you. We’re all about looking out for people in Ohio and doing our best to get you the money you need. Our Cincinnati injury attorneys have over 32 years of experience with car accident and personal injury claims.
Sometimes, you must go to court to get all the money you deserve for your damages. We’re not afraid to take your case to trial. Our experienced accident lawyers know how to show that the other person was careless and should pay for your damages.
Having a good accident lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio, can help you get a fair amount of money for your injuries. We’ll use our experience, resources, and knowledge to fight hard for you. You don’t have to pay us unless we win money for you. You can call the Slater & Zurz car accident law firm 24/7 at (513) 496-3331. Call us today for a free talk about your car accident case.
If you’re injured in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault, reaching out to an injury lawyer can be a crucial step. They are experienced in making sure you’re not left to deal with the aftermath alone, especially when it comes to navigating insurance claims and securing compensation for your injuries. A car accident and injury lawyer can help ensure that you’re fairly compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, and any pain and suffering caused by the accident. It’s about making sure you have someone on your side who understands the ins and outs of these situations and can fight for your rights effectively.
Many people worry about this one, but here’s the good news: most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if you win your case or settle out of court. The fee is usually a percentage of the settlement or award, so there’s no upfront cost to you. It’s a setup that makes getting legal help accessible since you won’t have to pay out of pocket to benefit from their experience in navigating these tricky situations.
When you’re injured in an accident and it wasn’t your fault, Slater & Zurz steps in as your advocate and guide. Their role becomes crucial in ensuring that you’re not undervalued by insurance companies, which are notorious for employing lowball tactics to minimize payouts. These companies may attempt to settle quickly, often before the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your life are fully understood.
Slater & Zurz navigates these challenges by gathering necessary evidence, negotiating with insurance providers, and if needed, taking your case to court to ensure you’re fairly compensated. They’re experienced in dealing with the strategies used by insurers and are dedicated to making sure your needs and rights are prioritized. Essentially, Slater & Zurz is your shield against the insurance industry’s attempts to reduce what they pay out, ensuring that you receive a settlement that truly reflects the consequences of the accident on your life.