Were you injured in a car accident in Sandusky, OH? If so, you’re probably struggling with injuries and related expenses. Our Sandusky car accident lawyers from Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers are here to get you the compensation you need and deserve. Call our experienced lawyers today at (419) 625-7770.
Our law firm has 181 years of combined experience to put behind your case. Since our law firm’s founding, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Sandusky, Ohio.
How Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Accident in Sandusky, OH?
Obtaining fair compensation after an Ohio auto collision isn’t always straightforward. The other driver or their insurer may unfairly blame you. You may not know how to value your damages, especially if you have permanent injuries. The insurance company may lowball you or outright deny your claim.
With Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers in your corner, you won’t have to deal with these issues alone. Our Sandusky personal injury lawyers will support you throughout the process and handle all facets of your claim.
If you hire our legal team after a car crash in Sandusky, OH, you can expect us to:
- Explain your rights and options
- Help you make decisions throughout your case
- Thoroughly investigate the collision to identify the liable parties
- Collect evidence and consult top experts as needed
- Accurately assess your past and future damages
- Prepare and submit all paperwork
- Negotiate with insurance providers and others on your behalf
- File a lawsuit and litigate the matter in an Ohio court if necessary
A lot goes into investigating an accident, assembling a solid case, and negotiating a fair settlement. These tasks are essentially impossible if you are battling injuries and trying to heal. We can take these worries off your plate.
Contact our Sandusky car accident attorneys today to discuss your personal injury claim. We offer a free initial consultation with no strings attached.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring an Ohio car accident lawyer is the best way to ensure you get fairly compensated for the full extent of your damages. With legal representation, you have a trusted advocate working to maximize the amount you receive.
Here’s how:
- Assembling the strongest claim possible: Your attorney will handle all aspects of your case, including investigations, evidence gathering, research, negotiations, and court representation. They’ll know how to establish liability and assess your damages.
- Providing valuable resources: Your lawyer will know who to call if your case requires expert witness guidance. For example, you may need medical specialists, reconstructionists, financial professionals, or others to strengthen your arguments.
- Leveling the playing field: Most car accident claimants must deal with insurance companies that have teams of people working for them. Their goal is to fight, undervalue, and deny claims. They won’t be able to take advantage of you with a skilled attorney by your side.
You also need to consider your own physical and mental needs. You’ve just been through a traumatic event that likely caused painful injuries. Give yourself time to focus on healing, and let us handle the rest.
How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?
All Ohio car accident claims are unique. You and another person may be involved in the same type of wreck, but that doesn’t mean you will experience the same injuries or damages.
Instead, our Sandusky personal injury attorneys will evaluate the following to determine what your claim is worth:
- The extent and severity of your injuries and how they’ve affected your life and family
- The cost of your medical treatment and other expenses
- Your non-monetary losses, such as chronic pain and disability
- Your lost wages and other job-related impacts, including reduced future earning potential
- Whether you share responsibility for the Ohio accident
- The auto insurance coverage available
Another important consideration is the strength of your evidence and your attorney’s competence. Work with our top-rated team to set yourself up for success.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Ohio?
Ohio law typically gives car accident claimants two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit. For fatal auto accidents, you have until the second anniversary of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death claim. There are few exceptions to this statute of limitations.
You must bring your case before the applicable deadline to preserve your right to compensation under the law. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of your action.
We will monitor all relevant deadlines in your case to ensure that you don’t lose your chance to hold the at-fault party responsible.
What Types of Compensation Are Available To Car Accident Victims in Sandusky, Ohio?
Most Sandusky car accident victims are entitled to seek compensation for all losses they sustained, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses you incurred due to the motor vehicle collision, including:
- Medical expenses
- Future healthcare costs for ongoing care
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages and benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are the ways your life has been affected other than financially; examples include:
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Permanent impairment
- Loss of companionship
While rare, sometimes, Ohio courts award punitive damages. They are only available if the plaintiff can prove that the defendant’s conduct was malicious or particularly egregious.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Most car accident lawyers in Sandusky and throughout Ohio work on a contingency fee basis. That means it won’t cost you anything upfront to obtain representation, and you only pay attorney’s fees if you recover compensation. They are an agreed-upon percentage of your awarded settlement or verdict. You won’t owe attorney’s fees if you don’t receive any money for your claim.
This payment arrangement allows you to get quality legal assistance even if you can’t afford it. You never pay anything out of pocket, so you don’t have to worry about hourly fees or a retainer.
We can explain this further during your complimentary consultation.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partly At Fault For an Ohio Car Accident?
It depends on your level of responsibility. Ohio law implements a modified comparative negligence standard. Sharing blame for a crash will result in a reduced payout. However, you can only recover compensation if your percentage of fault is 50% or less. Once you exceed that threshold, you are barred from any financial recovery.
Suppose you are found to be 30% to blame for an Ohio auto accident. In that case, you’d only be entitled to 70% of any settlement or verdict awarded to you.
If you’re being blamed or think you are partially responsible for a car accident in Ohio, speak with a skilled attorney as soon as possible. You may be surprised by what a thorough investigation uncovers in your case. You don’t want to take on more blame than is fair and receive less money than you deserve.
Will My Car Accident Case Go To Trial?
Probably not. Most car accident cases end with a settlement after negotiations between the parties. This is often the preferred route because settling is cheaper, quicker, and provides more certainty than going to trial.
However, if the opposing side refuses to offer you a fair amount that fully covers your losses, you may end up in the courtroom. Or, there may be questions about complex issues, such as liability, that the parties cannot agree on.
Regardless of the path your personal injury case takes, we will keep you informed on all aspects. Whether you settle or go to trial will be your decision to make.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Sandusky?
The things you do after a Sandusky traffic collision can impact your health and any future claims.
If you’re well enough, take the following steps:
- Call 911 to notify the police and request EMS if anyone is hurt. You’ll want a law enforcement officer to investigate and prepare an objective accident report to use as evidence.
- Exchange contact information with other involved parties and witnesses.
- Document the accident scene. Take photos and videos of anything that could be relevant. That includes property damage, road debris, traffic/weather conditions, and skid marks.
- Do not discuss fault with anyone. Even if you think you know exactly what happened, it’s best not to talk about it until a formal investigation has been conducted.
- Seek a prompt medical assessment, regardless of how injured you think you are. You may have delayed injuries or symptoms that are masked by adrenaline.
Consider consulting an experienced car accident attorney in Ohio before speaking with an insurance adjuster. If you decide to hire a lawyer, they will file a claim and communicate with insurers on your behalf.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
At Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers, our Ohio car accident attorneys handle all types of cases.
Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end collisions are often thought of as minor fender benders. However, that is not always true. At high speeds, these incidents can cause severe injuries and substantial property damage. Our Sandusky rear-end crash lawyers can help you battle insurers for fair compensation.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on crashes are traumatic and can cause life-altering harm. If the wreck resulted from a drunk, tired, or distracted driver, they should be held fully accountable. Let our Sandusky head-on crash attorneys obtain justice for you.
Rollovers
A rollover can occur for many reasons, including speeding, road defects, and vehicle design flaws. Because of the many ways these incidents can happen, determining fault can be challenging. Our Sandusky rollover accident lawyers can investigate and assemble your case.
T-Bone Crashes
T-bone collisions most often happen at intersections, which are inherently dangerous locations. When drivers are distracted or speeding, they run red lights and cause devastating wrecks. If you’ve been injured due to someone’s negligence, contact our Sandusky T-bone crash lawyers for immediate assistance.
Other Car Accident Types
We also help injured people after:
- Highway crashes
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Sideswipe accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Uber accidents
- Lyft accidents
Regardless of the type of crash you were injured in, our personal injury attorneys in Sandusky are here to assist.
Who Could Be Liable For My Injuries Resulting From a Car Accident?
Anyone who contributed to the cause of the collision could share liability for your damages. Sometimes, that means multiple individuals may be named as at-fault parties.
Examples include:
- Other drivers
- Pedestrians
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
- Trucking companies
- Government agencies
- Passengers
- Car manufacturers
- Employers of negligent drivers
It’s crucial to determine who played a part in your Ohio motor vehicle accident. Doing so will give you the best chance of pursuing all available compensation options. Our personal injury lawyers in Sandusky will identify everyone who could be financially responsible for your injuries.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Whether you’re expected to fully heal or have suffered life-altering catastrophic injuries, the at-fault individual needs to be held accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
At Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers, we help auto accident victims who have sustained all kinds of injuries, including:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractured and broken bones
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Burns
- Amputations
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Airbag injuries
We also assist families who have tragically lost loved ones in fatal collisions. We can file a wrongful death case and pursue recovery for funeral costs, lost financial support, and more.
The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
Automobile accidents typically result from negligent driving behaviors – but not always.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Running traffic lights and stop signs
- Driving under the influence
- Inexperienced drivers
- Tailgating and other aggressive driving
- Unsafe turns and passing
- Road defects
- Defective car parts
It’s important to fully understand what caused your Sandusky traffic accident. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to seek compensation from all responsible individuals.
Sandusky Car Accident Statistics
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that in 2023, 1,965 traffic crashes occurred in Erie County, home to Sandusky.
Here is some additional information about those accidents:
- 11 were fatal
- 50 caused serious injuries (suspected)
- 229 caused minor injuries (suspected)
- 130 caused possible injuries
- 1,545 caused property damage only
- 88 were alcohol-related
- 266 were speed-related
These statistics indicate that around 15% of all Sandusky crashes caused a suspected injury or death in 2023. If you add in the “possible” injuries, that number jumps up to 21%.
Call Our Sandusky Car Accident Lawyers Today For Help
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Sandusky, OH, Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers is here for you. With 181 years of combined legal experience, we have the skills and know-how to pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.
Our law firm was established nearly 80 years ago, and we are well-known and trusted throughout the community. You’ll want us on your side as you battle insurers for a fair and much-needed financial recovery. Contact our experienced car accident lawyers in Sandusky today for a free case evaluation.