Car Accident Attorney in Cincinnati

Car accidents are on the rise in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Greater Cincinnati area is home to some of the deadliest roads in Ohio. The research showed that a particular portion of Interstate 75 in Evendale, Sharonville, and West Chester Township was the second-deadliest 5-mile stretch of roadway in Ohio between 2017 and 2019. The study further revealed at least nine fatal accidents during that time, claiming ten lives. 

Sadly, most of these accidents occur due to negligent driving. If you or your loved one has suffered injuries caused by a negligent driver, you need to talk to an experienced Cincinnati car accident attorney from Morgan & Morgan. Here's why. 

Car Accident Attorneys Understand Complex Laws

Ohio has some of the most complex car accident laws in the country. To begin with, Ohio is an at-fault state when it comes to car accident insurance. This means that the party responsible for the accident must compensate the other party for the damages caused. However, one of the greatest challenges with the at-fault system is that the party claiming damages must prove that they got injured due to the other party's negligence. 

In some cases, it can be pretty easy to prove fault, while in others, things can be a little bit more complicated. For example, if one driver hits the other driver's car from behind, the driver who got hit can file a claim against the other driver's insurer. In this case, the insurance company will most likely agree to settle because when someone hits your car from the back, their insurer doesn't usually have much room to avoid liability.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that when someone hits your car from behind, they're automatically at fault. In their defense, they could claim that your brake lights were not functioning or that you cut them off suddenly. If that's the case, the judge might rule that you were partially responsible for the accident. 

The bottom line is that car accident laws in Ohio are complex and apply differently in various scenarios. Therefore, what seems straightforward on paper might be difficult to prove theoretically, and that's why it's always advisable to work with a Morgan & Morgan car accident attorney to help break down these complex legal concepts and use them to your advantage. 

In short, having a car accident attorney who understands Ohio car accident laws significantly increases your chances of filing a successful claim. 

Attorneys Know How to Deal With Insurance Companies

After a car accident, many people assume that insurance companies will write them a check without asking questions. But the reality is that insurance companies will not only ask questions but also frustrate you in your pursuit of the compensation you need and deserve after a car accident. 

This is because they don't really care about you, even though they may seem like it in their commercials. In fact, most insurance companies agree to settle certain claims because they don't have any other choice. If given the opportunity to deny or reduce your claim, such companies won't even think twice about it. 

At Morgan & Morgan, we know different tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying what they owe you for their insured's negligence. Some of these tactics include:

• Contacting you right after the injury to prevent you from talking to an attorney
• Requesting you to sign a medical authorization form that allows them to dig into your medical records to try and find a reason to dispute your claim
• Offering a quick settlement in exchange for a verbal or written release of settlement agreement, barring you from seeking further compensation for that particular accident
• Requesting you to provide a recorded statement right after the accident, which they'll use against you later 
• Disputing your medical expenses or recommending the termination of treatment beyond a certain point
• Delaying your claim, hoping you'll give up your pursuit of compensation
• Offering less than what you deserve as compensation
• Misinterpreting the law to discourage you from seeking justice 
• Denying your claim either partially or completely 
• Daring you to go to court while hinting at the costs involved to discourage you from seeking legal action against them

At Morgan & Morgan, we've dealt with countless insurance companies in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the entire country. As a result, we understand the different tactics they use to avoid liability. In addition, we know how to counter these tactics, ensuring that you receive the compensation you need to resume your everyday life or at least be able to manage your new lifestyle as a result of the accident. 

They Can Determine the True Value of Your Claim

It's easy to settle for any amount of compensation when you don't know the true value of your claim. As mentioned before, insurance companies will most likely contact you a few hours or days after the accident. They do this to learn more about the accident and, most importantly, you. 

For instance, they'll try to find out where you go to work, how much you earn, your financial condition, etc. They'll then use this information to gauge how much they might be willing to compensate you based on your lifestyle.  

For example, if you're struggling financially, a compensation of $10,000 might seem quite decent. As a result, you may be tempted to accept it thinking the insurance company cares about you and wants to settle the matter as soon as possible. But what if we told you that you might be entitled to up to 20 times more than the initial offer from the insurance company? 

That's not something you'll learn without the help of a Morgan & Morgan car accident lawyer in Cincinnati. In fact, by the time you find out that you may be entitled to more than the initial offer, it might be too late to pursue further compensation. This is especially true if you agree to sign a settlement agreement without an attorney.

In addition, many car accident victims are usually not aware that they can recover more than medical expenses from an accident caused by a negligent driver. Other than medical expenses, they may be eligible for compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disfigurement
• Lowered quality of life
• Loss of wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Replacement or repair of damaged property

When you work with a Morgan & Morgan car accident attorney, we'll evaluate the value of your case by digging deep into the details. We don't leave anything out because we know that you may not be able to seek additional compensation for the same accident once you've accepted the settlement offer. 

Your Cincinnati Car Accident Attorney Can Help Prove Liability

In Cincinnati, the person filing a claim or lawsuit must prove that the other party is responsible for their damages. But that's not always the easiest thing to prove, depending on the specifics of the case.

Remember, insurance companies have legal counsel, too. So they won't just write you a check simply because you believe their insured is responsible for your injuries. If you've suffered severe injuries due to the accident, it's usually an extra source of motivation for insurance companies to dispute or deny your claim. 

Such companies will hire claims adjusters to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. Claims adjusters may sound friendly when they contact you to find out more about the accident, but deep inside, they're always fighting for the interests of insurance companies. During that process, they hope that you'll say something that'll jeopardize your claim. 

But when you involve an experienced car accident attorney in your case, they can help prove that the other party is responsible for your injuries. This is because they understand Ohio car accident laws. In addition, when you work with an established personal injury law firm like Morgan & Morgan, the largest in the country, you can rest assured that our attorneys have access to unlimited legal resources needed to build a strong case against the defendant.

To establish fault or negligence, a Morgan & Morgan Cincinnati car accident lawyer will help prove that:

• The other party owed you a duty of care
• They breached their duty of care
• You suffered injuries due to the breached duty of care
• You suffered losses due to the injuries sustained as a result of the breached duty of care

Morgan & Morgan Car Accident Attorneys Can Help Gather Evidence

To prove liability in a car accident case, you need evidence. But what qualifies as evidence, in your opinion, might not be strong enough from the legal perspective. Depending on the specifics of your case, an experienced attorney can help you gather critical evidence needed to convince the insurance company or the jury that you suffered injuries due to the defendant's negligence. 

Some examples of evidence required to build a strong case against the other party include:

• Video footage from witnesses or nearby surveillance cameras
• Photos from the accident scene
• Accident reports 
• Witness statements
• Medical records, scans, and tests

Car Accident Attorneys Can Help Create a Legal Strategy

This is usually the most important thing about hiring an attorney. Because of their experience dealing with car accident cases and insurance companies, you can count on a seasoned car accident attorney to create a legal strategy to maximize your compensation.

For example, it may be necessary to delay your claim for a few more weeks or months in some cases. This tactic ensures that you receive the treatment you deserve before filing a claim. On the other hand, it might be difficult to pursue additional compensation when you file a claim prematurely.

Here's an example. 

Suppose you suffer whiplash after an accident and then file a claim right away. In that case, the insurance company might decide to negotiate a settlement to close the case as soon as possible. They do this because they understand that keeping the claim open creates room for other damages. For example, after further tests, your doctor might discover that you also suffered brain damage other than whiplash. As a result, the insurance company will also need to settle the cost of treatment for brain damage.

Given that our attorneys are familiar with car accident laws in the state, they can help create the best legal strategy to pursue your claim. This strategy ensures that every possible damage is covered before signing the final settlement agreement. 

A Cincinnati Car Accident Attorney Can Represent You in Court

When insurance companies refuse to pay what they owe, our attorneys might decide to file a lawsuit against them, presenting the case in front of a judge. This is usually the last resort when all negotiations have failed. 

At Morgan & Morgan, we're always prepared for every possible scenario when fighting for what you're entitled to as compensation. So if the other party refuses to settle, we're never afraid of filing a lawsuit against them. In fact, our attorneys are required to handle a certain number of cases in court every year.

So if the defendant chooses to settle the matter in court, it helps our attorneys reach their targets for the year and also increases the value of your claim. This is because court cases are expensive, and we include these costs when calculating the final settlement.

Unlike many law firms that only settle out of court, our attorneys have a solid history of recovering up to 20 times more than the initial settlement offer. So if the other party thinks that taking the case to court will discourage our attorneys from fighting for what you're entitled to as compensation for their insured's negligence, this tactic won't work. 

Let a Morgan & Morgan Cincinnati Car Accident Lawyer Handle Your Case 

Car accident cases are complicated, but only if you don't know what to do after the accident. If you or your loved one has been injured by another driver's negligence in Cincinnati, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation. Alternatively, call our Ohio office at (614) 927-6770 to speak with one of our legal representatives today.