Were you or a loved one involved in an accident in Port Clinton, Ohio? You may be entitled to compensation from the responsible party. Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA can help you receive damages for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Since our founding in 1946, we’ve been a top-rated personal injury law firm in the State of Ohio. Our Port Clinton personal injury lawyers have 181 years of combined experience, and we’ve obtained more than $100 million for our clients. We’re confident that we can get you winning results for your case.
Contact our law offices serving Port Clinton today to get started or for more information. We offer a completely free initial consultation.
Why Should I Hire Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA To Handle My Port Clinton Personal Injury Case?
Getting hurt in an accident can be overwhelming for not just the victim but the entire family. The consequences can have an impact emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially all at once. If this describes your experience, you deserve all of the compensation available to you under the law.
Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA can help you maximize the value of your claim while you recover. Our experienced Port Clinton personal injury attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and The National Trial Lawyers, to name just a few of their accolades. We can help you by:
- Investigating your accident
- Collecting evidence and determining your best course of action
- Evaluating all of your damages
- Hiring experts to help with your case as needed
- Negotiating a favorable settlement agreement on your behalf
- Handling all the paperwork and communications
- Filing a lawsuit in Ottawa County and taking your case to trial if necessary
Get in touch with us in Port Clinton, Ohio, today to schedule your free consultation. Our award-winning trial attorneys are passionate about helping accident victims and will make your case our priority from the start.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
You may have a case as long as someone else is responsible for the harm you’ve suffered. You can file a personal injury claim regardless if they were intentional, negligent (careless), or reckless in their behavior. A few examples of situations that can lead to a claim include:
- Another driver runs a red light and crashes into your vehicle
- You slip and fall due to a dangerous condition on a piece of property
- A doctor or other healthcare provider prescribes you the wrong medication
- You become injured after using a defective product
If you’re unsure of whether you have a case, we encourage you to reach out for a free consultation. We can advise you on your legal rights and options at that time.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer in Port Clinton sets your case up for a successful outcome. A qualified personal injury lawyer can dramatically increase your case’s value and advocate for you effectively at every step of the claims process. Keep in mind that:
- Insurance companies and other at-fault parties have entire legal departments on their side. A personal injury lawyer can help you even the playing field.
- Attorneys have access to resources that they can leverage in your favor. For example, they can hire professionals to help you prove your case or establish how much it is worth.
- You will likely be blamed for your injuries, which could lead to reduced compensation. A lawyer can respond to these allegations and work to ensure you recover as much money as possible.
- You’ll be able to take the time you need to focus on your health. In the meantime, your personal injury attorney can handle your claim from beginning to end.
Want to learn more about how a personal injury lawyer can help you? Contact our legal team today to set up your free case evaluation.
We Handle All Personal Injury Cases in Port Clinton
With nearly 200 years of combined experience, our Port Clinton personal injury attorneys can help you with any type of case in this area of law. Some of our practice areas include the following:
Car Accidents
Car accidents happen regularly in Port Clinton. Since Ohio is an “at-fault” state for auto insurance, you can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance policy. Call our Port Clinton car accident attorneys today.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can result in severe injuries and damage. Reach out to our Port Clinton motorcycle accident lawyers to learn about how to establish liability and recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Truck Accidents
Trucks are a necessary part of our economy, but crashes involving these vehicles can be especially serious. Even though truck drivers are usually well-insured, these are still complex legal claims. Our Port Clinton truck accident attorneys can help you after a collision.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can take place on public or private property. Regardless of where your incident took place, you may be owed compensation through a premises liability claim. Learn more by contacting our Port Clinton slip and fall accident lawyers.
Dog Bites
Ohio doesn’t have a “one bite” rule like many other states do. That means you can take legal action regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone previously. Contact our Port Clinton dog bite lawyers if you were injured in an attack.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation can offer benefits if you get hurt at work. However, you might also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit for additional damages. Begin the path to a full recovery by reaching out to our Port Clinton workers’ compensation attorneys.
We can assist with many more kinds of cases than are mentioned above, including helping your family with a wrongful death claim if you’ve lost a loved one in an accident. Contact our personal injury law firm in Port Clinton for a free case assessment after any type of injury.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Most personal injury attorneys in Port Clinton work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging you a flat rate or by the hour, personal injury lawyers only get paid if they win the case.
If your attorney secures a settlement or jury verdict for you, they will receive a percentage as payment for their legal services. In most cases, this fee will be around 33%.
You can hire a top-rated injury lawyer under this payment structure without paying anything upfront. Further, your lawyer will have the incentive to collect as much compensation for you as they can – the more money you get, the more money they make as well.
What Damages Are Available to Port Clinton Accident Victims?
Victims of accidents in Port Clinton can recover economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages are also possible, but only in rare cases.
Economic damages include:
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
If you hire our Ohio attorneys, we’ll work hard to calculate all of the losses you have sustained. That way, we can demand full compensation from the defendant.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Each case has a unique value based on its facts and circumstances. Some of the factors that can influence how much your case is worth include:
- How serious your injuries are
- The types of injuries you’ve suffered
- Whether you share any responsibility for the accident
- The amount of your financial losses
- Whether you will make a full medical recovery
- The identity of the at-fault party
- Any relevant insurance policy limits
It sometimes requires expert help to accurately evaluate a claim, and the process can be complex. However, it is critical to understand what your case is actually worth before seeking money damages from the opposing party – otherwise, you might end up with less compensation than you are due.
What if I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?
As long as you weren’t mostly at fault for your accident in Port Clinton, you can still receive compensation. Ohio follows a “modified comparative negligence” law with a 51% bar to recovery.
If you are found to be 51% or more to blame for your injuries, you cannot recover damages under the law. Otherwise, your damages may be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault. For example, sharing 25% of the blame may reduce your damages by that amount.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can aim to minimize the percentage of fault you are assessed so that you can maintain the full value of your claim.
Personal Injury FAQs
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After an Accident in Ohio?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Ohio is two years by default. That means that you will generally have two years from the date of your accident or injury to file a lawsuit. If your lawsuit is filed past the time limit, you will likely lose your right to pursue compensation.
However, there are exceptions that apply to some circumstances, and you may have a different amount of time to take legal action in your case. Contact a lawyer on our team for help as soon as you can so that you can protect your legal rights and interests.
What Is Negligence and How Do I Prove It?
Negligence is the legal basis of most injury cases. It has a similar meaning to “carelessness.” Essentially, a person is negligent when they fail to act as a reasonable person would, causing someone else to get hurt and/or suffer damages.
There are four legal elements necessary to prove negligence:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation (proximate and direct)
- Damages
Each must be proven “by a preponderance of the evidence,” meaning each must be at least 51% likely to be true. Types of evidence you can bring in support of your negligence claim include:
- Expert analysis and testimony
- Eyewitness reports
- Medical records
- Financial documents
- Photographs and video
- Physical evidence
Schedule a free consultation with an injury lawyer today to learn how we can help you establish negligence liability.
Ohio Personal Injury Laws (Brief Overview)
A few aspects of Ohio personal injury law impact most cases and are worth paying extra attention to, which are:
- Ohio has “at-fault” insurance rules for motor vehicle accidents. After a crash, you can file a third-party insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the other driver.
- In most cases, you have two years from your accident date to file a lawsuit in court. However, exceptions apply to some cases that adjust this time limit.
- You may still get money even if you share fault for your injuries. However, this is only true if you aren’t mostly to blame.
If you have any questions about how Ohio laws apply to your case, feel free to contact our offices and schedule a time to meet.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Your case probably will not go to trial. Most cases are resolved through out-of-court settlement negotiations. However, our attorneys prepare each case as though it may go to trial – and there’s good reason for that.
For instance, if liability is in dispute or the defendant refuses to offer a fair settlement, we may sue them. Once we file a lawsuit, we can obtain information and potentially critical evidence from the other side via pretrial discovery.
Furthermore, trials are expensive and take a lot of effort. Insurance companies (and other liable parties) note when claimants are represented by a successful trial lawyer and may increase their offer on that fact alone.
If you hire a Port Clinton, Ohio, attorney with our firm, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if that’s in your best interest. Our primary goal will be to put as much money into your pocket as we can.
How Long Will My Injury Case Take?
Some injury cases take just a few weeks or so to finalize, but others can take much longer. Factors that may influence the timeline include:
- The complexity of the case
- How valuable the case is
- Whether it’s necessary to file a lawsuit
- The availability of evidence
- Whether liability is at issue
- The identity of the opposing party
Our injury lawyers can provide preliminary insight into how long your case might take during your free consultation.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
The immediate aftermath of an accident in Port Clinton can significantly affect your personal injury claim. Keep in mind the following:
- Call 911 and alert the police of the accident. They will arrive at the scene and make a report that can help your case. This step is also required by law for most collisions.
- Exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved in the crash.
- Do not apologize to anyone about the accident, and do not accept blame. If you do, it could hurt your claim.
- If it’s safe to do so, collect evidence, such as photos and videos, information from eyewitnesses, and more.
- Seek medical treatment even without a clear injury. Not all injuries present symptoms at the scene, and medical records can serve as evidence for your claim.
From there, set up a free case review with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can then offer legal advice on what to do going forward.
Contact Our Experienced Port Clinton Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help
If another person caused you to suffer an injury in Port Clinton, Ohio, you may be able to file a claim against them for money damages. Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA is one of the most successful and well-regarded law firms in the area and can help you every step of the way.
Our Port Clinton personal injury attorneys have won over a hundred million dollars for our clients and have 181 years of experience in total. Contact us today to book your free case review, either by giving us a call or sending a message through our online contact form.