Car accidents can cause significant damage and severe injuries. When you have suffered debilitating injuries in a collision, you have the right to compensation when someone else is at fault. You may require extensive legal support to recover from your injuries.
With a reputable Troy car accident lawyer at Dungan & LeFevre working for you, we can help you recover maximum restitution for your damages.
Contact our team for a free consultation today to find out how much your case could be worth. Schedule a consultation with our online form or at 1-937-339-0511.
Car accidents can cause significant damage and severe injuries. When you have suffered debilitating injuries in a collision, you have the right to compensation when someone else is at fault. You may require extensive legal support to recover from your injuries.
With a reputable Troy car accident lawyer at Dungan & LeFevre working for you, we can help you recover maximum restitution for your damages.
Contact our team for a free consultation today to find out how much your case could be worth. Schedule a consultation with our online form or at 1-937-339-0511.
Causes of Car Accidents in Troy
Establishing negligence and liability of another party is crucial if you hope to recover maximum compensation for your damages. To figure out who is responsible, your Troy car accident attorney must carefully evaluate how your accident occurred.
Determining the cause of the collision can quickly identify the liable party.
What is Negligence?
Under the Ohio Revised Code, someone is considered negligent when they don’t act as a reasonable person would, and someone else is injured or killed. Drivers are expected to focus on the road and drive safely. However, when they act recklessly and cause an accident, they are considered negligent and at fault for a crash.
Negligent Driving
First, we have negligent driving. Irresponsible and reckless drivers are the top cause of motor vehicle wrecks across the state. Careless driving can take many forms. Some of the more common types of reckless driving could include the following:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Making illegal turns
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Failure to stop at a stop sign or traffic light
- Driving while drowsy
Essentially, any type of unsafe driving behavior could be considered. This is partly because licensed drivers must operate their vehicles safely and protect themselves, their passengers, and other motorists on the roadways.
Vehicle Defects
Another cause of motor vehicle accidents is mechanical defects. It is not unusual for motor vehicle parts to become defective or malfunction. Types of motor vehicle parts that have been known to malfunction or be defective include:
- Tires
- Control arms
- Steering columns
- Brakes
- Fuel system defects
- Defective ignitions
- Airbags
- Seatbelts
- Door latch mechanisms
Hazardous Roads
Another way car accidents occur in Troy is through hazardous road conditions. This can include a multitude of dangers, such as:
- Missing street signs or lamps
- Failure to make necessary repairs to traffic lights
- Lack of bicycle lanes or pedestrian crosswalks
- Unsecured road construction zones
Liability For Your Car Accident Damages
Once we have a better idea of how your car accident occurred, we can identify those responsible. Do not be surprised if multiple parties share blame for your injuries. Although this may complicate your case, it increases the likelihood that you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Reckless Drivers
Reckless drivers are often found responsible for causing car accidents. When a negligent driver causes a collision, they could be held accountable for your damages and compelled to compensate you accordingly.
However, other parties can share the blame when a negligent driver causes a collision. For example, suppose a drunk driver caused your car crash. In that case, you might not only file a claim against the driver, but you may also have a chance to file a claim against any vendors that negligently overserved alcohol to the defendant while they were already under the influence.
Types of Car Accidents
In addition to considering how your accident occurred, we will need to evaluate the type of car accident. This could help us determine potentially liable parties and gather powerful evidence to support your case.
Some examples of the types of car accidents that often cause debilitating injuries include:
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Tire blowouts
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Highway accidents
- Accidents at intersections
- Underride accidents
Legal Options After a Car Accident in Troy
After taking on your car accident claim in Troy, one of our top priorities will be examining your legal options for financial recovery. You have the right to be compensated for every single loss.
However, going through the claims process is different for every case. Here are some of the top ways you may be able to recover compensation for your suffering:
File a Claim With the At-Fault Party’s Insurer
Generally, when you have been involved in a car accident, filing a claim with the insurance company is one of the best ways to recover a portion of your losses. Ohio follows fault-based insurance laws, so you will file a claim with the liable party’s insurance company when there is an accident.
However, insurance settlements only cover specific types and amounts of losses. It is not unusual to still have additional damages the insurance company is not obligated to cover. Fortunately, there are other ways you can recoup these losses.
File a Personal Insurance Claim
Ohio is a fault state for insurance claims. The at-fault party will be responsible for paying for damages. Your best chance to recover compensation will be to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They may dispute the claim amount, but if their insured negligently caused the crash, you are entitled to compensation. . If the at-fault driver does not have auto insurance, or if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage, you may also be able to pursue an uninsured motorist claim or an under-insured motorist claim with your auto insurer.
A personal injury lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
File a Car Accident Lawsuit
Finally, when insurance coverage is insufficient, filing a civil lawsuit against the liable party may be in your best interests. When you bring your car accident lawsuit to trial, you can recover your losses in the fall.
Although Ohio limits the amount of compensation you can recover for non-economic damages, there are no restrictions on economic damages. Civil court is one of your most effective options to cover your costs fully.
The Value of Your Car Accident Settlement
Are you wondering how much compensation you could be awarded if your car accident claim in Troy was successful? If so, you are not alone. After the trauma of what you went through, you want reassurance that the effort you put into your case will pay off.
Here are some of the most common types of damages car accident victims can recover after being involved in a collision:
Lost Wages and Future Earnings
You have the right to seek restitution for your loss of income. You can be repaid for your loss of employee benefits and diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to work for the foreseeable future.
Personal Property Damages
Getting your vehicle repaired or replaced will be essential. You will still need to return to work and continue providing for yourself and your family.
The liable party can be required to cover the cost of vehicle parts and labor, a rental car, and any damaged personal property and even compensate you for the diminished value of your vehicle.
Healthcare Costs
The last thing you need is to be stuck with thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical expenses when someone else is responsible for causing your injuries.
The at-fault party can be ordered to cover every single medical expense, from your ambulance bills and co-pays to your prescription medications and ongoing medical care.
Pain and Suffering & Other Non-Economic Damages
In addition to the previously mentioned economic damages, you have the right to be compensated for your pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.
Pain and suffering can have a dramatic impact on your life. You may find it challenging to get back to your life, enjoy relationships with family and friends, and deal with the emotional effects of the trauma you went through.
It should be noted that Ohio law has a cap on the amount of non-economic damages that could be awarded.
You can be awarded up to three times the value of your economic damages (up to $350,000) or $250,000, whichever is greater. However, if you suffer permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, or loss of a bodily organ system; or if you suffer permanent physical functional injury that permanently prevents the injured person from being able to independently care for self and perform life-sustaining activities, as a result of your injuries, Ohio’s non-economic damages caps may not apply in your case.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer in Troy for Help Today
Are you ready to act when someone else’s negligence causes your car accident injuries? You do not have to go through the claims process alone.
Get in touch with an experienced Troy car accident lawyer at Dungan & LeFevre to learn more about what is next for your insurance and civil claims. You can fill out our convenient contact form or call 1-937-339-0511 to schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation today.