Were you or a family member recently injured in an accident in Huron, OH? An experienced Huron personal injury lawyer at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call (419) 871-9015 today for a free consultation.
Between us, our attorneys have over 181 years of experience handling personal injury cases. We’ve been working hard to protect injury victims and their families since we started our law firm 78 years ago. To date, we’ve successfully recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts.
If you were injured, our team is here to help you stand up to the insurance companies and fight for the money you deserve. Do you have questions about your legal rights and options under Ohio’s personal injury laws? Contact our law offices in Huron, Ohio, to schedule a free consultation. There’s no obligation, and we never charge attorney’s fees until we recover compensation for our clients.
Why Should I Hire Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers To Handle My Huron Personal Injury Case?
Choosing the right law firm matters. When you decide to hire a Huron personal injury attorney, it’s important to hire a firm with experience, resources, and a track record of success. Otherwise, it’s easy for the insurance company to take advantage of you.
Our team at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers has been recognized by Super Lawyers and the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40. We’ve also earned a place on the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you hire us, you’ll have a knowledgeable team to:
- Provide personal attention and support at every stage
- Help you understand what to expect from the insurance and legal process
- Investigate and locate all parties who are legally responsible for your losses
- Identify the damages you have suffered and calculate your case value
- Work with respected experts who can strengthen your claim
- Defend you if you’re facing allegations that you caused your own injuries
- Handle all paperwork and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf
- Stand ready and take your case to court to protect your rights
Expenses can add up quickly after an injury. If you’re forced to miss time at work, that only adds insult to injury. When someone else is responsible, our Huron personal injury lawyers are here to hold them accountable. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about how we can help.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury cases can arise from many different scenarios. The key is proving that someone else was responsible for causing you some type of injury or physical harm.
For example, you may have a valid case if:
- You were hit by a car while riding your bike
- You developed a medical condition after using a defective prescription drug
- Someone assaulted you while walking across your poorly lit apartment complex
- Your neighbor allowed their dog to run free without a leash, and it bit you
Anytime you’ve suffered harm because of someone else’s acts or omissions, you could have a valid personal injury case. Calling an experienced attorney is always the best way to learn about the strength of your claim.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
An experienced attorney can be your strongest asset when you’re trying to recover compensation for injuries. Lawyers handle cases like yours every day. They understand the law–and know how to protect you from aggressive defendants who don’t want to admit liability.
Some of the most important reasons to hire a personal injury attorney include:
- Leveling the playing field: Insurance companies have virtually unlimited resources. They have lawyers, actuaries, and experts who can help them limit their financial liability. When you hire an attorney, you’ll have your own team to help you fight back.
- Access to experts: Expert testimony can be critical to proving various elements of your claim. Respected personal injury law firms have access to experts.
- Handling the blame game: Personal injury victims are often blamed for their own injuries. Blame-the-victim scare tactics are often aggressive. Your lawyer will know how to defend you and produce evidence to downplay these unfair allegations.
- You need time to recover: Serious injuries can dramatically change your life. You deserve time to rest and recover. Your attorney can focus on the insurance battle while you take care of yourself.
In the end, your lawyer can stop you from making mistakes that could reduce your case value. Clients who secure legal representation generally take home more money than individuals who handle their claims alone.
We Handle All Personal Injury Cases in Huron
At Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers, we handle all types of personal injury claims. We know that every accident and injury is unique. Injuries can have unexpected consequences–and we’re prepared to help you fight for full compensation.
For example, our accident lawyers in Huron have experience representing clients in cases involving:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Dangerous property conditions or premises liability
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Accidents involving large trucks and commercial vehicles
- Bus accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Boating accidents
- Sports accidents
- Recreational vehicle accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products or product liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Assault and violence
- Wrongful death
We also have experience successfully representing clients in these practice areas:
Car Accidents
Car crashes happen every day in Ohio. To recover compensation, you’ll have to prove that someone else was at fault for the accident under Ohio’s insurance laws. Our lawyers in Huron are prepared to help you do just that. If you were involved in a car accident, call our law firm to schedule your free case review today.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle wrecks often result in life-changing injuries. When serious or permanent injuries are involved, insurance companies tend to work even harder to minimize their liability. Our lawyers are here to help you recover every dollar you deserve. Count on us to bring in respected experts and build the strongest case possible.
Truck Accidents
Large trucks can be extremely dangerous when truck drivers aren’t careful. Unfortunately, truckers are often under tight deadlines and ignore federal regulations designed to keep others safe. If you were injured in an accident involving a large semi-truck or big rig, reach out to our accident attorneys to explore your legal options today.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Property owners in Huron have certain legal duties. When they allow others onto their premises, they must ensure the property is reasonably safe–and free from fall hazards. If you were injured in a slip and fall on someone else’s property, our lawyers can help you prove that your injuries occurred due to the owner’s negligent property maintenance.
Dog Bites
Dog owners in Ohio are responsible when their dogs bite and injure others. The dog’s owner may be liable even if they weren’t negligent. That doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get the fair compensation you deserve. Our lawyers can help you prove your case to the owner’s insurance company and reject any lowball settlement deals.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ comp is supposed to protect workers when they’re injured on the job. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation laws are complicated. Employers and their insurance companies often challenge injured workers’ right to benefits. With our experienced attorneys in your corner, you can rest assured that you’ll have a strong advocate to fight for the full compensation you deserve.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Many accident victims don’t realize that they can afford a lawyer. While some lawyers charge expensive hourly rates or large upfront retainer fees, personal injury lawyers work differently.
Getting quality legal advice doesn’t have to be expensive. Most personal injury law firms in Huron operate on a contingency fee basis. When you hire a lawyer, you’ll agree to pay them a percentage of the compensation they recover in your case.
What Damages Are Available to Accident Victims in Huron, Ohio?
After an accident in Huron, you can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Your settlement or verdict should make you whole again. Every loss you’ve experienced should be accounted for.
Economic damages cover the financial impact of an accident and injury, including:
- Current medical bills for ER visits, surgeries, follow-up visits, medications, etc.
- Future medical expenses if you need ongoing medical care
- Rehabilitation, including physical therapy, nursing care, and specialized treatments
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential
- Property damage and vehicle repair costs
- Expenses related to childcare or in-home assistance
Non-economic damages cover the more personal, non-financial losses associated with an injury, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Inconvenience
- Humiliation
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are rare but may be available if the defendant’s acts were particularly shocking. Courts typically reserve punitive damages for cases where the defendant intentionally hurt you or displayed a serious disregard for human safety.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
All personal injury cases are different. Your lawyer will have to evaluate the facts and circumstances before we can estimate the fair value of your case.
The most important factors that we’ll analyze when we’re calculating the value of your personal injury claim include:
- The circumstances and evidence in your case
- Your medical treatment costs
- Additional out-of-pocket expenses you’ve suffered due to the injury
- Your lost wages during recovery
- The severity of your injuries and whether you’ll suffer any long-term injury
- Future impacts, including loss of future earning capacity and damage to your lifestyle
- The physical pain and mental trauma you’ve suffered
- Whether you share fault for the injury
- Available insurance coverage
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
While these are some of the most important facts to consider, your case may involve different issues. It’s essential to work with a lawyer who will put in the time and effort to accurately assess your case value.
The valuation process typically includes assessing your financial losses, learning how the injury has changed your life, and even hiring experts to testify about your anticipated future needs.
What Happens to My Compensation Award If I’m Partially At Fault For Causing an Ohio Accident?
Your compensation award will be reduced if you share any blame for your injuries. Under Ohio’s comparative negligence law, it’s even possible that you could lose your right to compensation entirely if the other side proves you were at least 51% responsible for your injuries.
Liability for an accident is divided between all parties involved. That includes injured parties. Each party is responsible for their own share of liability.
For example, assume that you were injured in an auto accident. The other driver was texting and couldn’t stop in time to prevent the crash. However, there’s also evidence that you were speeding. 20% of the blame is allocated to you. Any compensation awarded to you will be reduced by 20%.
Personal Injury FAQ
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident in Ohio?
The personal injury statute of limitations in Ohio is two years. That means most accident victims have two years from the date of their injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are some exceptions.
For example, you were injured due to a medical error or because of exposure to toxic substances. In these cases, you might not know about the injury right away. The two-year clock doesn’t start to run until the date you discover, or reasonably should have discovered the harm.
These deadlines might seem like they’re only technicalities. In reality, courts take them very seriously. Missing the deadline means you lose your right to pursue compensation for your losses entirely.
What is Negligence, and How Do I Prove It?
Negligence is a legal term for a failure to exercise a reasonable amount of caution under the circumstances. To recover compensation, the injured person has the burden of proving negligence.
The four elements that you must prove include:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- By some act or omission, the defendant breached their duty of care
- The breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of your injuries
- You suffered damages or some type of identifiable loss due to the injury
Various types of evidence can be used to satisfy your burden of proof.
Depending on the facts, effective evidence may include:
- Police reports or accident reports
- Medical records
- Video surveillance footage from a dash cam, traffic light, business, or even doorbell camera
- Employment records
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Testimony from expert witnesses and eyewitnesses
- Vehicle recording devices
Every case is different. Your lawyer will understand the types of evidence that will be most valuable to your claim. While you’re recovering, you deserve to have a legal team working to locate the evidence you’ll need to prove your case.
Ohio Personal Injury Laws
Many different laws can be relevant to your claim for compensation.
Examples of the Ohio personal injury laws that may apply in your case include:
- Premises liability laws if you were injured due to dangerous conditions on someone else’s property
- Strict liability laws if your injuries happened because of a defective product or due to a dog bite
- At-fault car insurance laws in motor vehicle accident cases
- Workers’ compensation laws in workplace injury cases
- Attractive nuisance laws in childhood injury cases
You deserve a lawyer who fully understands the laws that will govern your case. Our team at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers has decades of experience. We’re prepared to start putting our skills to work for you today.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
While it’s always possible that your case will go to trial, most cases never make it into a courtroom, let alone a full-blown trial. Most personal injury cases are resolved by negotiating with the insurance companies and at-fault parties.
However, it’s critical to have an attorney who has experience winning trials. Trial should always remain a possibility, even if only to make sure the insurance company has reason to negotiate for a full settlement. Without that threat, they might think they can get away with paying far less than you deserve.
Here are some typical reasons why a trial might become necessary:
- Multiple parties share fault for the same accident
- Serious disputes over legal responsibility or the case value exist
- The victim wants a sense of justice in a public forum
- The other side refuses to negotiate in good faith
Filing a lawsuit alone may be enough to motivate the responsible parties to negotiate for a fair settlement. Trials are unpredictable and expensive. They’re also very public, whereas settlement deals can be kept private.
How Long Will My Injury Case Take?
The amount of time your case takes will depend entirely on the facts. While some cases can be resolved in a matter of weeks, others take much longer. Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries, the longer it will take to finalize your insurance settlement or obtain a jury verdict.
In serious injury cases, we often start insurance negotiations before the victim has even reached maximum medical improvement. However, it’ll take time for the doctors to get a full understanding of your prognosis. If you settle too quickly, you risk taking less money than you really need.
Insurance companies also know that their financial exposure is more significant when serious injuries are involved. Unfortunately, that typically means they’ll fight harder to avoid accepting responsibility. When serious disputes over liability exist, the case takes longer to resolve. Your lawyer will have to spend much more time gathering evidence to prove you deserve compensation.
In all cases, it’s important not to rush into a quick settlement. Taking the time to carefully evaluate your losses is critical to recovering full compensation. Insurance companies know how much personal injury cases are worth–and when it seems like they’re trying to resolve the case quickly, it’s often because you deserve more than they’re offering.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
Accidents can be overwhelming. While money probably isn’t the first thing on your mind, injuries can quickly become expensive. There are some key steps you can take to protect yourself immediately after an accident.
If you were involved in an accident, you should:
- Call 911 and report the accident. Request an ambulance if someone is seriously injured.
- Remain at or near the accident scene.
- Take photos and videos to document the scene, property damage, and any obvious injuries.
- Exchange contact information and insurance details with the other party.
- Exchange contact information with any witnesses.
- Do not accept blame or apologize. These types of statements can be used by the other side to reduce liability.
- Receive medical attention. Even if you don’t think you are seriously injured, seeing a doctor quickly is essential. Your medical records will be important if you later decide to file a claim for compensation.
It’s also a smart idea to consult an experienced personal injury attorney in Huron, OH. A lawyer can evaluate your case and start taking steps to protect your legal rights.
Contact Our Experienced Huron Personal Injury Lawyers For Legal Help
If you were injured due to someone else’s acts, you deserve to be compensated. Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers is here to help you navigate the complex legal issues you’ll likely have to face. With our Huron personal injury lawyers on your team, you’ll be able to focus on healing.
Call us today or use our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation. There’s never any obligation to hire our team, so there’s no risk in reaching out for legal advice.