Fighting For Car Accident Victims In The Cincinnati Metropolitan Area
Every day, hundreds of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bikers sustain injuries or die in road accidents. Even low-speed car accidents in the Cincinnati Metro can kill or maim people, and the path to physical, mental and financial recovery is long. But resources are available, and our attorneys are fierce advocates.
At Merk & Gile, our Cincinnati car accident lawyers are passionate and committed. We work on your behalf to ensure that your needs are taken care of while you recover. We make sure your injuries are fully accounted for, all of the associated costs are tallied, and then we pursue the maximum compensation possible.
Start working with us and stop worrying. Call today. The consultation is free and we handle all motor vehicle wreck cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we get you results. From our offices in in Newport and Cincinnati, our car accident attorneys serve all of Kentucky and Ohio.
How Much Compensation Will I Get For My Car Accident?
The law entitles you to enough compensation to cover all medical bills, lost wages and other costs that resulted from a car crash caused by another driver’s negligence, as well as money for the pain and suffering you have experienced.
The exact dollar amount will vary based on the severity of your injury, the extent of your property damage and other losses and the insurance laws of your state. Considering how expensive medical treatment can be and the fact that we want to make sure the compensation amount covers all future medical care, from ongoing doctor appointments to surgeries, the car accident claims we handle frequently add up to hundreds of thousands and even more than a million dollars.
Rest assured, our lawyers will work hard through all phases of the car accident lawsuit in pursuit of the financial outcome you deserve. We are trial-tested and ready to fight for you. Reach out to us for a free, no-obligation consultation and we may be able to provide a better sense of the value of your auto accident case.
How Do I Evaluate A Car Accident Settlement Offer From The Insurance Company?
As a starting point, the settlement offer should be sufficient to cover all the medical bills you have already accumulated and wages you have already lost, as well as future medical bills and lost wages related to the car crash.
If the settlement check looks like it only covers the hospital bills you have currently accumulated or wages you have lost so far, and you know you will need more treatment and time off, that is certainly a red flag. But that is just the start. Does it include money for the pain and suffering you have experienced?
You have the right to be skeptical about any car accident settlement offer you receive, especially if it comes while you are still in recovery. Insurance companies don’t care about your well-being – at least, that’s not their top priority. Instead, they want to close your case file as quickly and inexpensively as possible. They will make you a quick settlement offer for your car accident, and it is almost certainly going to be far less than you need and far less than your case is worth.
Our experienced car accident injury lawyers can evaluate your case promptly and accurately, and for free. We aren’t afraid to reject lowball settlement offers. If the insurance company is unwilling to offer a reasonable settlement, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court.
Do Car Accident Laws Differ Depending On Whether I Was Hit In Ohio Or Kentucky?
Yes, they do, but the two states also share some laws and legal principles when it comes to car accident claims. We’ll focus on three key areas: fault-based vs. no-fault insurance, negligence laws and statutes of limitation.
No-fault vs. fault-based insurance coverage: Ohio is a “fault state” when it comes to auto accidents. Simply put, this means that the party who caused the accident (and, by extension, their insurance company) must assume financial responsibility for the crash.
By contrast, Kentucky is a “no-fault” state. After a traffic accident, each driver must first file a claim against the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage on their own insurance policy. Drivers can opt out of PIP coverage but must do so in writing. If the accident was serious enough to meet certain thresholds, the victim can pursue a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault driver, but this is not as straightforward as it would be in Ohio.
Negligence laws and principles: Both Ohio and Kentucky recognize some version of a legal principle known as comparative negligence. This means that both drivers could share fault for a car accident and that being partially at fault doesn’t prohibit you from taking legal action. However, the amount of money you claim if you win or settle your case will typically be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Statute of limitations: Both Ohio and Kentucky have laws that say you must file a car accident lawsuit within two years of the crash. If you don’t file within that time, you forfeit your right to sue.
Experienced Cincinnati Car Accident Attorneys Who Care About You
Injuries can come from many types of traffic accidents, including car crashes, truck wrecks and motorcycle wrecks. In all cases, one thing is for certain: insurance companies are powerful and have many resources at their disposal that they will use to minimize how much they pay in a car accident claim. Our lawyers use our legal knowledge to preserve the evidence, evaluate your case and demand fair compensation for you.
The car accident attorneys at Merk & Gile, Injury Attorneys, have spent years representing injured parties in Kentucky and Ohio, and in that time have recovered millions in compensation for victims and their families. Since founding our firm, Spencer Merk and Eric Gile have accumulated accolades as top-tier personal injury attorneys. Our clients call us prompt, extremely helpful and courteous. Most importantly, our clients walk away knowing that the legal world can genuinely care.
Hurt On The Road? Call For A Free Consultation
It can be hard to think about finances when you are in a car accident, but once you call the police and receive emergency medical care, you need to call a motor vehicle accident attorney. The sooner you call us, the better we can help you. The consultation is free and there is no obligation. Reach our office by calling 513-838-2511 or filling out our contact form.