An accident can disrupt your life and leave you with injuries that prevent you from working, jeopardizing your financial stability.
A personal injury lawyer from The Fitch Law Firm, LLC in Westerville can help you hold responsible parties accountable for their actions and pursue fair compensation for your losses.
Benefits of Working with Our Personal Injury Law Firm
Navigating a personal injury case can be daunting, but a skilled lawyer can ease the process by:
- Identifying all liable parties
- Constructing a strong compensation case
- Gathering evidence to prove liability
- Evaluating damages and case value
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Representing you in legal proceedings
- Filing a lawsuit, if necessary, within Ohio’s statute of limitations
Our dedicated team handles every aspect, providing peace of mind as you focus on recovery.
Some people hesitate to seek legal advice and assistance due to worries about expenses. We alleviate these concerns with our contingency fee structure. There are no upfront fees; payment is only due upon successful recovery from your settlement. We can explain this further during your free consultation.
Identifying the At-Fault Party in a Personal Injury Case
Determining who is to blame for an accident helps your lawyer pursue compensation from their insurance carrier.
In personal injury cases, the at-fault party is typically the individual or entity whose negligence or intentional actions caused the injury or harm. Some possible at-fault parties in personal injury cases may include:
- Individuals: This could be another driver in a car accident, a property owner or occupier in a slip and fall incident, a healthcare professional in a medical malpractice case, or an individual who commits assault or battery.
- Companies or Corporations: These may include businesses whose products caused injury due to defects (product liability), employers in cases of workplace accidents or injuries caused by negligence, or companies responsible for maintaining safe premises, such as landlords or property management firms.
- Government Entities: In cases involving accidents or injuries on public property or due to the actions of government employees, the government entity may be at fault. This could include unsafe road conditions, negligence by government employees, or injuries sustained in public facilities.
- Manufacturers or Distributors: In product liability cases, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of a defective product may be liable for injuries caused by the product’s design, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings or instructions.
Determining the at-fault party in a personal injury case often requires a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident and an assessment of relevant laws and regulations. In some cases, multiple parties may share liability for the injuries sustained by the victim.
The Last Thing You Should Worry About Is How You’re Going To Pay For Your Medical Bills.
(614) 545-3930 Proving Negligence Is a Crucial Step Your Lawyer Will Take
Demonstrating the responsible party’s accountability for your injuries and losses is crucial in seeking compensation. We establish this by proving they:
- Had a duty of care towards your safety
- Breached this duty through negligence or recklessness
- Directly caused your injury due to this breach
- Resulted in compensable damages
If these conditions are satisfied, your case can progress. Often, multiple parties may hold liability. For example, in a car accident, the other driver and the municipality maintaining the roads might share the blame.
Furthermore, if the driver was on the job, their employer might be liable. Our lawyer meticulously identifies all responsible parties to ensure accountability.
Even if you bear partial liability, seeking damages is possible if you’re less than 50% responsible. Your compensation will be adjusted accordingly, and we’ll advise you on the best steps to take.
Determining the Value of Your Case and the Damages You Can Pursue
Although it’s impossible to put an exact dollar amount on your case or know how long it will take to resolve, your personal injury lawyer in Westerville will estimate your claim or lawsuit’s value using the following criteria:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- The extent of your physical and emotional distress
- The financial impact of additional damages, such as property loss
- The insurance policy limits of the responsible party
- Your degree of liability in the incident
You can pursue the following types of damages:
Economic Damages
In various circumstances, you could receive compensation for expenses incurred, including:
- Medical bills: This includes all past, present, and future medical expenses related to your physical injuries. It covers hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, prescription medications, physical therapy, and other healthcare costs directly resulting from the incident.
- Lost income and benefits: If your injury has caused you to miss work, you can claim compensation for your lost wages. This also includes the loss of benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and bonuses you would have received if you had not been injured.
- Diminished earning capacity: If your ability to earn a living has been permanently affected, you may be entitled to compensation for the reduction in your earning potential. This considers factors such as your age, skills, occupation, and the severity of your injury.
- Property damage: If your personal property was damaged or destroyed due to the incident, you could claim the cost of repairs or replacement. This often includes vehicles, electronics, clothing, and other personal belongings.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, which are often challenging to quantify, encompass:
- Physical and emotional pain: Compensation for the physical pain and suffering endured due to the injury. This also covers emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological impacts that are not easily measurable.
- Mental anguish: This includes the mental suffering and trauma caused by the incident and its aftermath. It can cover conditions such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and other long-term psychological effects that affect your well-being.
- Disability or disfigurement: If the injury has resulted in a permanent disability or visible disfigurement, you may receive compensation for the impact on your life. This includes loss of mobility, chronic pain, and the psychological impact of living with a visible scar or deformity.
- Diminished quality of life: This refers to the overall reduction in your ability to enjoy and participate in life’s activities. It can include the loss of hobbies, recreational activities, companionship, and other aspects of life that you can no longer enjoy as you did before the injury.
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Seeking Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one in an accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death case on their behalf. Although this won’t ease the pain of losing a loved one, it will help with the financial responsibilities as a result of their passing. It’s not fair that you should have to add this financial burden to the pain of losing someone you love.
Your lawyer can help hold the responsible party accountable for:
- Outstanding medical bills
- Expenses related to funeral arrangements and burial costs
- Deprivation of guidance and companionship
- Emotional suffering experienced by surviving relatives
If you are eligible to seek a wrongful death lawsuit, your Westerville personal injury lawyer at The Fitch Law Firm, LLC can help with all the legal aspects of your case.
Types of Personal Injury Practice Areas Our Westerville Attorneys Handle
We handle the following types of personal injury cases:
- (Commercial) Truck Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Wrongful Death
- Dog Bites
- Construction Accidents
- Sexual Abuse: Institutional Level or Involving a Professional
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Harmful Drugs and Medical Devices (Product Liability)
- Swimming Pool/Drowning Accidents.
Having a Westerville personal injury attorney on your side ensures you understand your rights and options for seeking compensation, including filing a personal injury claim, negotiating settlements, or pursuing litigation.
You Have a Limited Amount of Time to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
According to Ohio law, if you are filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to do so.
If you miss the deadline, you can lose your right to seek damages. Legal representation ensures you meet all the deadlines so you don’t lose your right to the compensation you deserve.
Call The Fitch Law Firm, LLC Today for Your Free Consultation
If you were injured in an accident in Westerville, the team at The Fitch Law Firm will work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for your free initial consultation so we can start your case immediately.