Standing By Motor Vehicle Accident Victims In The Cincinnati Metropolitan Area
Every day, hundreds of drivers, pedestrians, bikers and passengers sustain injuries or die in road accidents. Even low-speed accidents 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.
The Merk & Gile 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 and then pursue the maximum compensation possible. Start working with us and stop worrying.
Experienced Lawyers Who Care About You
Injuries can come from many types of road accidents, including car crashes, truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents and hit-and-runs. When you’ve been injured, we can help maximize your care. Insurance companies are powerful and have many resources at their disposal. We use our legal knowledge to preserve the evidence, evaluate your case and demand fair compensation for you.
The personal injury lawyers at Merk & Gile, Injury Attorneys, have spent years representing injured parties in Kentucky. 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.
Answers To Common Questions About Car Accidents
Below, we’ve provided answers to questions we regularly receive from clients and prospective clients. If you have additional questions, we would be happy to provide answers during a free initial consultation.
How much compensation will I get for my car accident?
This is a very common question, but it needs to be answered on a case-by-case basis. Your compensation will depend on a variety of factors, including the extent of your injuries, the extent of your property damage and other losses and the insurance laws of your state. Ultimately, you should get enough money to cover past and present medical bills and lost wages related to the car accident, as well as additional cash for the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of a careless driver. The good news is that our firm offers free, no-obligation consultations to give you a better sense of the value of your case.
Do car accident laws differ depending on whether I was hit in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana?
Yes, they do, but the three states also share some laws and legal principles. 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: Both Ohio and Indiana are “fault states” 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 an 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 lawsuit against the at-fault driver, but this is not as straightforward as it would be in Ohio or Indiana.
Negligence laws and principles: All three states recognize some version of a legal principle known as comparative negligence. This means that both drivers could share fault for an 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: All three states have laws that say you must file a lawsuit within two years of the accident. If you don’t file within that time, you forfeit your right to sue.
How do I evaluate a car crash 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. But that is just the start. The best way to evaluate the settlement offer is to call us for help. 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, and it is almost certainly going to be far less than you need and far less than your case is worth.
As experienced injury attorneys, we can evaluate your case promptly and accurately, and 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.
Hurt On The Road? Call Merk & Gile, Injury Attorneys, 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 your attorney. The sooner you call us, the better we can help you. Reach our office by calling 513-838-2511 or filling out our contact form.
