Personal Injury Law in Dayton, OH

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Dayton? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Dayton, OH can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Dayton relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Dayton, OH

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Dayton 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a significant increase in personal and workplace injuries, generally stemming from negligence and substance abuse. Injury reports and emergency room visits resulting from drug use are up significantly and the problem shows no signs of abating. Residents of Dayton have not been immune from this, as workplace and auto accidents resulting from substance abuse make up a significant portion of injury reports.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Dayton, OH

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Ohio

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

Over 90% of personal injury cases end as a result of a settlement. This could happen when you first come before a judge, or during the mediation process. However, if your case does go to trial, a judge or jury will be the ones to decide what settlement, if any, is rendered.

Ohio Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

It is difficult to find the average settlement in Dayton. There are many factors which can contribute to settlements. For instance, the amount of fault, severity of the injury, and the amount of negligence involved in a particular case. Most cases generally settle for between $10,000 and $20,000. However, this does not hold true for all cases.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in OH, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Ohio

If your Ohio personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. In order to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Ohio has no laws capping an amount awarded for economic damages. However, non-economic damages, such as money awarded for mental anguish or pain and suffering, are capped at $250,000.

Statute of Limitations in Dayton, OH Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Residents of Dayton have only 2 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim against the responsible party. If your claim is not filed within this time-frame, the statute of limitations will be up and the court will generally reject your claim.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Dayton, OH Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Dayton against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Ohio state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!