Were you or a family member injured in a car crash in Norwalk, OH? Contact an experienced Norwalk car accident lawyer from Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers at (419) 871-9015 for help with insurance and legal issues. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.
Between us, our attorneys have over 181 years of legal experience. We’ve already won over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients.
It’s never too early to learn about your legal rights. If you were involved in a car accident, call our law firm in Norwalk, Ohio to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers Help Me Recover Damages After a Car Crash in Norwalk?
If you’ve been in a car accident, you deserve a lawyer to advocate for your best interests. The recovery process can be long and difficult. You may be unable to work–all while you’re watching the bills pile up.
Even if you have insurance, don’t expect the insurance companies to make things easy. They may seem sympathetic. Remember that it’s their job to pay as little as possible regardless of the severity of your injuries.
A Norwalk personal injury lawyer at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers is here to fight back. We know how to minimize the impact of insurance scare tactics and force the insurer to take your case seriously.
We’ve earned a reputation for success over the years. That includes recognition by Super Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and many other prestigious professional organizations.
When we begin working for you, our legal team will:
- Investigate and gather evidence
- Analyze all available evidence, including video footage, medical records, accident reports, and more
- Interview witnesses and examine the crash scene
- File a claim with the insurance companies
- Bring in experts who can testify about complex and contested aspects of your case
- Fiercely defend against allegations that you caused or contributed to the accident
- Assess your damages and calculate the value of your personal injury claim
- Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company and defense team
If the insurance company refuses to offer an acceptable settlement, our Norwalk personal injury attorneys won’t hesitate to fight for your rights at trial. We know how important your claim for compensation is.
When you’re ready to learn more, we’re here to discuss your case. Call us today for a free consultation.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a car accident lawyer is the best way to ensure you don’t only recover some compensation, but maximize your financial recovery.
You’re probably going to be dealing with insurance companies in the aftermath of the accident. Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance carrier or the at-fault driver’s insurer, the company will work hard to pay as little as possible.
An experienced car accident attorney can help by:
- Bringing in experts who can testify about your case value and other complex elements
- Making sure you understand how much compensation you really deserve so you can reject any lowball settlement offers
- Giving you time to focus on what’s most important: your physical recovery
The insurance company might push you into taking a lowball deal. They might even try to deny your claim entirely and hope you walk away without a fight. Your lawyer can protect you at every point in the insurance and legal process.
What is My Car Accident Worth?
First, an attorney cannot estimate the value of your personal injury claim without an investigation. Any attorney who claims they know how much you deserve before they know all of the facts isn’t being honest. Every single personal injury case is different.
When your attorney is assessing your case value, the following factors are important:
- The severity of your injuries
- Your current medical expenses
- The cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation you’ll need in the future
- The value of your lost wages during recovery
- Whether you will be permanently disabled
- Whether your future earnings will be less because of the injury
- The pain and suffering you’ve endured
- Whether the injury will have a long-term impact on your quality of life and lifestyle
- Whether shared fault is an issue
- The strength of the evidence
Most personal injury law firms offer free case reviews. During your free consultation, your lawyer will ask questions so they can determine whether you have a strong case. If they can’t help, there won’t be any cost to you.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Ohio?
The statute of limitations in Ohio is two years. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. After that two-year deadline passes, you lose your right to hold the at-fault party responsible for your injuries.
However, there are some exceptions to this law that might apply to your case. You might have a different amount of time to take legal action, so contact us as soon as you can for assistance.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Car accident victims in Ohio can suffer all sorts of losses. Under Ohio personal injury law, damages are broadly classified as economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages:
Your financial losses are called economic damages.
They may include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including ER visits, hospitalization, nursing care, follow-up visits, medications and more
- Lost wages during recovery
- Lost future earning capacity, or the difference between what you made before the accident and what you can earn with your disability
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Property damage, including vehicle repairs
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as childcare costs, increased transportation expenses, home modifications, and more
The responsible party can be held liable for all financial costs associated with your injury.
Non-Economic Damages:
Non-economic damages in Ohio compensate for your more intangible losses.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- The pain and suffering caused by the injury
- Emotional distress and mental trauma, including PTSD, anxiety and depression
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Humiliation
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium and damage to relationships
You won’t be able to back up these losses with receipts. Our lawyers often work with experts as we assess the financial value of these non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages:
Punitive damages will only be awarded if the defendant in your case acted intentionally or in an especially shocking way. Punitive damages are awarded solely to punish the defendant for their actions.
For example, if you were injured in a drunk driving accident, it’s possible that the court may award punitive damages.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Most car accident lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis. Rather than paying the law firm a large upfront retainer fee, you pay a percentage of your compensation award.
When your lawyer wins compensation in your case, you’ll pay a set percentage. If they don’t win, you won’t pay attorney’s fees.
What Happens to My Compensation Award if I’m Partly Responsible for Causing a Car Accident in Ohio?
Multiple parties can, and often do, share blame for the same crash. In Ohio, blame will be apportioned between all parties who share some fault–including injured parties. While it may not seem fair to have to defend yourself when you’re struggling with painful injuries, it happens all the time.
Under Ohio’s comparative negligence law, you can recover partial compensation if you were no more than 50% responsible for the accident. Assuming the insurance company can prove you shared some blame, your settlement or verdict will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Once your percentage of fault exceeds 50%, however, you’re barred from recovering any compensation at all.
Insurance companies know these rules inside and out. Blaming the victim is a common tactic. Don’t assume the insurance company can prove their allegations. If you’re being blamed for causing a car crash, call an experienced lawyer who can defend you.
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
Most car accident claims are successfully resolved through insurance negotiations. However, it’s always possible that your case could go to trial. If that’s the case, it’s important to have an experienced trial lawyer on your side.
Trial is most common in cases where one of the following is true:
- There is a serious dispute over liability
- Multiple parties share blame, and liability must be apportioned between them
- The insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement
- The victim wants to hold the defendant publicly responsible
Recovering full compensation for your injuries is critical. Your lawyer should always be prepared to reject lowball settlement offers and proceed to trial if necessary to get a fair compensation award.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Norwalk?
There are a number of things that you should be doing after a crash in Norwalk. Taking a few simple steps can be extremely valuable when you’re fighting to recover compensation at a later date.
Those steps include:
- Remaining at the accident scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Ohio. Stay clear of dangerous road conditions by moving the vehicles to a safe place if possible.
- Call 911 and wait for the police to arrive. Let the police know if anyone needs emergency care, and the dispatcher can send an ambulance to the scene.
- Exchange information. Exchange insurance information with the other driver. You should also exchange contact information with the other driver and any witnesses who stopped to offer assistance.
- Take photos and videos. Using your smartphone, take videos of the accident scene. Try to document damage to vehicles and general conditions around you. You should also document any obvious injuries you have suffered.
- Avoid taking blame. While it may seem natural to apologize, try to avoid taking any responsibility for the accident. Many different factors may have played a role in the crash–and it can be tough to really know what happened when you’re in the middle of things.
- Seek medical attention. Regardless of how minor your injuries seem, you should seek medical care if you were even slightly injured in the crash. The sooner a doctor treats you, the better your odds of recovering fully. Prompt medical care will also provide an important evidentiary link between the accident and injuries.
Call a lawyer. Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance company or someone else’s, the claims process can be difficult. Our experienced Norwalk car accident attorneys handle cases like yours every day. We know the process, and we know how to fight for you.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Claims in Norwalk
Our team at Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers has successfully represented clients in all types of car accidents. Some examples of our practice areas include:
Speeding Accidents
Speeding was a factor in over 28,000 accidents in 2023. Speeding not only makes it more difficult for the driver to prevent accidents, but it also increases the risk of severe injuries. If you were injured in an accident and the other driver was speeding, let our team help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Head-on Collisions
Head-on crashes can be extremely dangerous. Although cars are getting safer all the time, the risk of serious injury is high in head-on crash cases. If you or a family member were injured in a head-on collision, you can trust that our lawyers will do everything possible to hold the responsible party accountable.
Rear-end Collisions
While rear-end collisions are often fender benders, they still have the potential to cause severe and life-changing injuries. If you were rear-ended, our attorneys can help you fight to hold the at-fault party liable.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Cases involving multiple vehicles or pile ups can be extremely complicated. Multiple parties may have been responsible for the crash. While you’re focused on recovering, our lawyers will be gathering evidence to minimize the blame–if any–that’s allocated to you.
T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents can be incredibly dangerous for the occupant on the side of impact. Whether the other driver ran a red light or simply wasn’t paying attention, our lawyers are here to help you prove your case. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a lawyer who can help.
Other Practice Areas Include:
We’re also prepared to take on cases involving:
- Rollovers
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Highway accidents
- Truck accidents
- Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles
- Motorcycle accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Fatal accidents
Regardless of the scenario, our accident attorneys in Norwalk are ready to handle the fight for compensation. All you have to do is call for the legal advice you deserve today.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
All parties who share even some blame for the crash may be liable. Most often, one of the drivers involved was responsible.
However, depending on the facts, any of the following parties might be liable for your damages:
- Negligent drivers
- The employer of a negligent driver who was working when the crash happened
- The manufacturer of defective safety equipment
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Government agencies responsible for oversight
- Trucking companies in cases involving a large big rig or semi-truck
- Negligent passengers
- Vehicle maintenance companies
After a full investigation, our lawyers will work to identify all parties who can be held legally responsible for your losses.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
An auto accident has the potential to cause any type of injury. While many victims are fortunate enough to walk away with relatively minor injuries, not all victims are so lucky.
Our attorneys often represent car accident victims who have suffered:
- Concussions
- Broken bones and fractures
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
- Eye injuries
- Burns and road rash
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Airbag injuries
- Seat Belt injuries
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis, including quadriplegia or paraplegia
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
When you’re injured, it’s natural to have questions about your legal options for recovering compensation. An experienced attorney can help with every aspect of your case. Your lawyer can also start working to build your case while you’re still recovering from your injuries.
The bottom line? Don’t wait too long. Call to arrange a free initial consultation with a lawyer as soon as possible.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents happen for all different reasons. Negligent driving is the root cause of most crashes. Generally, accidents occur when drivers fail to exercise a reasonable amount of caution, given the circumstances.
More specifically, some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
- Tailgating, or following too closely for road conditions
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued drivers and drowsy driving
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Aggressive driving behaviors
- Dangerous lane changes
- Dangerous left-hand turns or illegal U-turns
- Ignoring traffic signals, including red lights and stop signs
- Bad weather and dangerous road conditions
In the end, you might not fully understand why your accident occurred. It can be difficult to know exactly what was happening in the other vehicle. That said, identifying the cause of your accident is critical to your financial recovery.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, call our legal team for assistance today. We’ll do everything possible to help you fight for the fair compensation you need during this difficult time.
Statistics on Car Accidents in Norwalk, OH
Car accidents happen every day. Across Ohio, 252,167 motor vehicle accidents were reported to the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 2023. At least 38,655 people were hurt in those crashes. The police also listed 25,127 possible injuries in cases where they weren’t certain. Overall, 1,150 people lost their lives in auto accidents during 2023.
At least 1,705 car accidents were reported in Huron County during 2023. At least 186 people were injured in those accidents. The most dangerous roads for drivers were US-250, US-20, SR-61. 384 crashes were reported on those three roads alone.
Contact an Experienced Norwalk Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today
When you’re injured, everything can seem overwhelming. Recovering fair compensation can be one of the most important things you ever do. That’s even more true when the injury is likely to result in a long-term disability. You deserve an experienced Norwalk car accident lawyer with a proven track record when it comes to handling cases like yours.
At Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers, we’ve been serving clients in Norwalk for decades. We offer free consultations, so there’s never any financial risk. We’ll sit down, listen to your story and help you understand your legal rights and options. Call today to schedule yours.
Client Review
Read more of our client reviews here.