What Should I Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident?

What you do in the hours and days after a car accident can directly impact the value of your injury claim under Ohio law.

While safety comes first, the legal and financial consequences of a crash begin immediately. Insurance companies move quickly to evaluate liability, minimize payouts, and protect their bottom line. Understanding your rights — and how claims are handled — can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

If you were injured in a crash, the Ohio car accident attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick are ready to protect your rights. Call 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free consultation.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Ohio

Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can be scary and overwhelming, so knowing what steps to take afterward is important. Following these steps will help you seek compensation for your losses later.

Call 911 & Get a Police Report

Always report the accident to law enforcement, even if it seems minor. A police report provides an official record of the crash and includes key details such as:

• Date, time, and location of the accident
• Driver and witness information
• Statements from involved parties
• Citations issued
• Preliminary fault assessment
• Photos of the scene

Seek Medical Treatment after a Car Accident.

Even if you don’t feel injured, visit a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms right away. Medical records serve as critical evidence to support your claim and prove your injuries were caused by the accident.

Exchange Contact & Insurance Information

Gather important details from all involved parties, including:

• Full names, phone numbers, and addresses
• Driver’s license numbers
• License plate numbers
• Insurance company names and policy numbers
• Make, model, and color of vehicles involved

Document the Scene

If possible, you should also document information about your accident by taking photos of the scene, damage to your and other vehicles, and your injuries.

Use your phone or ask someone to take photos and videos of:

• Vehicle damage and positioning
• Road conditions and traffic signs
• Visible injuries
• Skid marks, debris, or other crash-related evidence
• Weather conditions at the time of the accident

Your Legal Rights After an Ohio Car Accident

Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means:

• If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover compensation.
• If you are partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Insurance companies frequently attempt to shift blame to reduce payouts. Early statements, incomplete documentation, or inconsistent medical treatment can all affect fault assignment.

You also generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio. Missing this deadline may permanently bar your claim.

What Insurance Companies Do After a Crash

Most accident victims don’t realize how quickly insurers begin building a defense.

After a claim is filed, insurance companies may:

• Request recorded statements designed to elicit damaging admissions
• Analyze medical records for “gaps in treatment”
• Investigate pre-existing conditions
• Monitor social media activity
• Use valuation software to calculate settlement ranges
• Argue shared fault under Ohio’s negligence laws

Early settlement offers are often made before the full extent of injuries is known. Accepting a quick payout may prevent you from recovering additional compensation later — even if complications arise.

Having an experienced Ohio car accident lawyer ensures that communications, negotiations, and documentation are handled strategically from the start.

What If the Other Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured?

Ohio drivers are required to carry minimum liability coverage of:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury
• $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 for property damage

In serious accidents, these minimums are often insufficient.

If the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance, you may need to file a claim under your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. These claims can be complex and are still handled by insurance adjusters trained to minimize payouts — even though it’s your own insurer.

An experienced attorney can evaluate all available coverage sources to maximize recovery.

How Car Accident Claims Are Valued

Car accident compensation is not based solely on current medical bills. A thorough evaluation considers both economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and ongoing treatment
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Permanent disability or impairment
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

In serious injury cases, attorneys may work with medical experts, vocational specialists, and economists to project long-term financial impact. Without this level of analysis, settlements may fall far short of covering lifetime losses.

When Should You Hire an Ohio Car Accident Lawyer?

You should strongly consider hiring a lawyer if:

• You suffered serious or permanent injuries
• Fault is disputed
• The insurance company denies or delays your claim
• You receive a low settlement offer
• The accident involved a commercial vehicle or multiple parties

Even seemingly straightforward cases can become complicated once liability or injury severity is challenged.

How Kisling, Nestico & Redick Builds Strong Car Accident Cases

At KNR, we do far more than file claims and wait for settlement offers.

From day one, we approach every car accident case as if it may need to be presented before a jury. That level of preparation sends a clear message to insurance companies: we are prepared to pursue full and fair compensation — not quick, discounted settlements.

Immediate Investigation and Evidence Preservation

Time is critical after a crash. Evidence can disappear within days or weeks. Our team moves quickly to:

• Obtain police reports and supplemental investigations
• Secure dash cam, traffic camera, and surveillance footage
• Preserve black box (event data recorder) information from vehicles
• Document vehicle damage before repairs or salvage
• Identify and interview independent witnesses
• Send spoliation letters to prevent destruction of key evidence

Early preservation strengthens liability arguments and prevents insurers from controlling the narrative.

Advanced Liability Analysis

Proving fault in Ohio requires more than pointing to a police report. We conduct detailed investigations that may include:

• Working with accident reconstruction experts to analyze impact angles, speed, braking distance, and visibility
• Reviewing cell phone records in distracted driving cases
• Examining commercial driver logs and maintenance records in truck accident claims
• Analyzing roadway design or construction zone hazards

When liability is disputed, this technical analysis can make the difference between partial recovery and full compensation under Ohio’s comparative negligence laws.

Comprehensive Medical Case Development

Insurance companies routinely challenge the severity and cause of injuries. To counter this, we:

• Organize and analyze medical records chronologically
• Consult with treating physicians and specialists
• Identify future treatment needs
• Work with life care planners for catastrophic injuries
• Address pre-existing condition arguments directly

Our goal is to clearly establish causation and document the full scope of physical and emotional harm — not just immediate medical bills.

Strategic Damages Calculation

Many accident victims underestimate the long-term financial impact of serious injuries. We look beyond short-term losses and evaluate:

• Future lost earning capacity
• Reduced career advancement opportunities
• Long-term disability or permanent impairment
• Ongoing rehabilitation costs
• Home modifications or assistive equipment
• Loss of household services

In complex cases, we consult economists and vocational experts to quantify lifetime losses. A properly supported damages model gives us leverage in negotiations and at trial.

Aggressive Insurance Negotiation

Insurance adjusters are trained to protect company profits. Our attorneys understand the tactics used to:

• Shift blame under comparative negligence rules
• Minimize injury severity
• Dispute medical necessity
• Pressure early settlement

Because many of our attorneys have experience dealing directly with insurers, we know how claims are evaluated internally — and how to challenge unfair assessments.

When insurers refuse to negotiate in good faith, we are prepared to escalate.

Litigation When Necessary

Not every case settles — and insurance companies know which firms are willing to go to court.

When required, we:

• File formal lawsuits within statutory deadlines
• Conduct discovery and depositions
• Subpoena records and expert testimony
• Prepare persuasive trial presentations
• Advocate aggressively before judges and juries

Trial readiness creates negotiating power. Insurance companies factor litigation risk into settlement decisions. Firms that avoid court often receive lower offers — and insurers know it.

A Reputation That Carries Weight

With more than 500 years of combined legal experience, Kisling, Nestico & Redick has built a reputation throughout Ohio as a firm that stands up to insurance companies.

When insurers recognize that a firm prepares cases thoroughly and is prepared to litigate, it can influence how seriously they evaluate a claim — and how much they are willing to offer.

Our objective is simple: build every case with the strength, evidence, and strategy necessary to pursue the maximum compensation available under Ohio law.

Recover Compensation After an Ohio Car Accident

If another driver’s negligence caused your injuries, you should not be left to bear the financial burden alone.

Through a personal injury claim, you may recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Future lost earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

Every case is unique, and the value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, available insurance coverage, and the strength of liability evidence.

Contact KNR after an Ohio Car Accident for a Free Consultation

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we understand the pressure and uncertainty that you may be experiencing after a car crash. Our team has more than five centuries of combined legal experience and is ready to fight for the maximum compensation available.

With offices across Ohio, KNR makes getting legal representation for your car accident claim more convenient and accessible. We offer a free initial consultation and don’t charge any fees unless you obtain compensation.

Call 1-800-HURT-NOW or fill out our online form.