Experienced Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2021, car crashes resulted in 117 fatalities and 8,046 people injured in Columbus (Franklin County). Unfortunately, our citizens are no strangers to suffering from personal injuries, and car wrecks are only a fraction of the type of accidents that occur.

During recovery, victims also have to take on an onslaught of stressful matters like dealing with insurance companies and paying costly hospital bills. Rinehardt Personal Injury Attorneys offer experienced and well-informed legal support for people in Downtown Columbus, South Side, North Side, East Side, West Side, Clintonville, Glenbrook, and other Columbus communities, who are healing from personal injuries.

The Rinehardt Difference

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

In Ohio, if you experience an injury to your mind, body, or emotions at the hand of another, you could be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Beyond physical injuries, you can get compensation for any negative impact or hardship that the damage has caused. From emotional distress to lost wages, your claim could help ease the burdens that come during your recovery process. 

What to Do After Being in an Accident in Columbus, Ohio

The road to recovery after experiencing an accident is long, and you should focus on returning to normal. Whether you’ve been in a severe crash on The Outerbelt, experienced minor injuries from a wreck at the Cleveland Avenue and Morse Road intersection, or sustained injuries at the expense of someone’s carelessness, you deserve compensation for your troubles.

Here are the steps to follow after being involved in an accident that will make filing a claim more manageable in the future:

• Ensure your safety. As soon as the accident occurs, you will need to avoid worsening any inflicted injuries. Therefore, move yourself to a secure area as quickly as possible.
• Visit a doctor. If you have sustained a major injury, call 911 and get medical attention immediately. Even if there is no pain, there may be underlying issues caused by the accident that you are not privy to, making a medical examination imperative.
• Get visual documentation. The more visual evidence you have, the stronger your claim will be, so make sure you take detailed pictures of the scene and your injuries. 
• Save all physical evidence. Reminders of the accident can be painful, but any clothes you wore or things you were carrying during the accident can be used as evidence for your case. 
• File a report. If the police were called after the accident, the report filed on the scene is accessible. In a workplace setting, there is likely a pre-existing procedure you can follow to report the accident. In any case, obtain a copy of the report if you can.
• Preserve every document. Keep every piece of paperwork involving your accident, like reports, medical bills, and insurance documents. This evidence is crucial to building your case and will be used for negotiating your claim. 
• Call a personal injury lawyer in Columbus. The best way to ensure that you get justice for your hardships is through the support of an experienced personal injury lawyer. If you are seeking compensation, call 614-686-2020 and get assistance from a Rinehardt Injury Attorney.

No matter the accident, our team can help Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Columbus

Eligibility for Personal Injury Compensation Claims 

You could be eligible for various compensation claims after experiencing a personal injury. For example, a victim can seek compensation for Special Damages, which are easily calculated things like medical and therapy bills, lost wages, reduced income, and funeral expenses. 

You could also file for General Damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and loss of consortium with a spouse. While these damages are intangible, they are still life-changing and deserve compensation. 

How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?

The Ohio Revised Code §2305.10 (A) states that you must file a personal injury claim within two years after the accident in which you sustained injuries. A claim takes time to process, so it is pertinent to file it promptly and not wait until the last second. However, there are a few exceptions to the standard timeframe, which include

Hazardous Materials (Ohio Revised Code §2305.10 (B)(1): Whenever you come into contact with toxic materials, the adverse side effects often do not appear until later. For instance, your 2-year time limit can start ten years after exposure if that is when you start to feel symptoms.

Mental Health & Minors (Ohio Revised Code § 2305.16): If someone has been diagnosed with a mental disability and suffers a personal injury, they can start their 2-year time window after overcoming the injury. Similarly, minors have the allowance to hold off on filing their claim, which means an individual can be injured at 16, and their two-year time limit will not start until they turn 18. 

Absence of Defendant (Ohio Revised Code §2305.15): If the guilty party cannot be held accountable for their crimes, the prosecutor will not be penalized. For example, if you suffered injuries at the hand of someone in prison or are absent, your 2-year time period will not start until they can be held liable for their crimes. This pause on your time limitations also applies to hit and run accidents when the party at fault cannot be located. 

The Types of Personal Injury Cases We Work On

Our experienced attorneys proudly represent Columbus citizens and advocate for your case if you have suffered injuries from accidents on the Jack Nicklaus Freeway or any other roads in Ohio.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

After experiencing an automobile accident, many people sustain life-altering injuries, or their family is left to deal with tedious matters while coping with their traumatic loss. Various types of motor vehicle accidents include

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents

Workplace Accidents 

Compensation laws in Ohio cover medical bills and lost wages whenever a worker suffers a personal injury while on the job. However, you could be eligible for additional compensation if a third party, including these accidents, were involved. 

• Chemical exposure
• Slip and falls
• Construction site accidents
• Equipment failure

Premises Liability

Suppose a property owner fails to upkeep their premises or does not warn others about potential risks. In that case, they can be held liable for accidents caused by the unsafe conditions on their property. Examples of accidents you can sustain are

• Dog Bites
• Slip-and-Fall

Medical Malpractice

If any medical professional fails to provide an accurate diagnosis, mistreatments or neglects their patient, it can be considered medical malpractice. Common examples of this include

• Failure to recognize symptoms
• Not ordering appropriate tests
• Misdiagnosis or no diagnosis
• Surgery errors or unnecessary surgery
• Premature release from the hospital
• Issues with laboratory results
• Incorrect medication or dosage
• Inadequate follow-up or aftercare

Nursing Home Neglect

Caretakers in nursing homes often neglect to give proper care to the residents. Failure to provide the standard care needed in nursing includes things such as

• Hygiene neglect
• Medical neglect
• Failure to meet basic needs
• Ignoring social or emotional needs
• Elder abuse

Defective Products

Products that fail to meet the standard sanitization requirements or monitoring are sometimes sold to the public. Individuals can file compensation claims when they sustain injuries due to the company’s defective products

Wrongful Death

A wrongful death is an unfortunate byproduct of someone’s reckless or negligent behavior. The traumatic loss of a loved one is devastating, and families have to deal with the burden of medical care costs, burial and funeral expenses, emotional distress, and loss of financial support. If you are going through any of the hardships previously mentioned, you could be eligible for legal compensation. 

Consult with an Ohio Personal Injury Attorney

Healing from a personal injury is a long and mentally taxing process for anyone, and no one should do it alone. After a traumatic accident, you deserve the peace of mind that you are being well taken care of by a team of lawyers who care. The Rinehardt Law Firm team wants to minimize stress and ensure you get the proper justice during recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Columbus.