Who’s At Fault in a Car Accident? A Guide to Liability in Ohio
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
It’s hard to know what to do when painful injuries develop post-accident, and most victims are unsure how to handle them. Unfortunately, when people ignore delayed injury symptoms, they may lose out on much-needed compensation. To ensure you are compensated fairly, it is essential to handle your symptoms correctly.
No one wants to be injured in a car crash. And while some injuries are evident, some people don’t always know how seriously they or their loved ones were hurt. You may only appreciate your situation after a doctor runs tests or after their symptoms arise.
Some of the most common injuries known for delayed symptoms include:
Knowing the signs of a severe injury is important. Some injury symptoms that may indicate a serious injury after a car accident include:
When auto accident injuries take time to manifest or worsen, it can complicate filing an insurance claim and securing compensation for your losses.
For example, insurance companies often look for immediate medical attention as evidence. If symptoms appear days or weeks later, it may be harder to prove that they resulted from the accident. Insurance companies might argue that your delayed injuries are unrelated to the accident and resulted from pre-existing conditions or a subsequent incident. They may use this to undervalue your claim or as a pretext to deny you compensation.
Delayed symptoms can also impact your ability to file a lawsuit if the symptoms develop after the statute of limitations has expired. Ohio only has a two-year time limit for personal injury lawsuits. So, the longer it takes symptoms to develop, the less time you have to file.
This makes a thorough medical evaluation and clear documentation crucial after a car accident.
If you experience delayed symptoms after a car crash, try not to panic. Remain calm and take the following steps to protect your right to compensation:
Since the liable party will likely challenge your claim since your symptoms were delayed, it is crucial to be proactive. You and your attorneys must gather as much evidence as possible to prove that the car accident caused your injuries.
Examples of the evidence that may be most valuable include:
Even if your injury symptoms are delayed after a car crash, you still have the right to compensation for your losses and damages. If someone else is responsible for causing your injuries, there is no reason you should be expected to cover the costs.
Thankfully, under Ohio law, you can be repaid for every loss or made whole. This includes your financially-based losses (economic damages) and non-financial losses (non-economic damages).
Economic damages for delayed symptoms could include:
Non-economic damages you can recover after suffering delayed symptoms include:
Having an experienced personal injury lawyer is crucial when dealing with delayed injuries. By having a lawyer, you can anticipate accusations from the insurance company and present evidence that establishes liability. From there, you can highlight the significance of your delayed symptoms and subsequent injuries.
Ways your attorney can help get the most out of your claim:
Just because your injuries developed after a car accident doesn’t mean your pain and suffering are not as severe. You may encounter some challenges with delayed car accident injuries, but you can recover all the compensation rightfully yours. The Ohio injury lawyer at Kisling, Nestico & Redick can help make that happen.
Let us review the details of your case and worry about getting the documentation you need so you can focus on healing. Contact KNR today for a 100% free consultation. Call 1-800-HURT-NOW or contact us online.