After living through a serious accident that left you with catastrophic injuries, the idea of pursuing a claim for compensation can be especially daunting. You need to be able to focus on healing, not on juggling legal details.
Finding the right lawyer to assist you through this process is vital in Ohio. Often, the best place to start is to meet with your prospective choices to discuss your situation. By asking a few key questions during these initial consultations with catastrophic injury attorneys, you can decide on the most suitable person to take on your case.
How Much Experience Do You Have Handling Catastrophic Injury Cases?
When choosing a personal injury lawyer to help you fight for compensation, you’ll want to ensure they have substantial experience with your exact type of claim. Someone who focuses mainly on car accidents may not have as much knowledge of how to successfully take on medical malpractice lawsuits, for example.
It’s not enough to know that they’ve handled numerous cases similar to yours, either. Verify that the personal injury lawyer you choose has managed to obtain settlements or jury awards for clients as well.
What Is Your Approach to Investigating the Claim?
During consultations with catastrophic injury attorneys, it’s important to find out how they will put together a strong claim. What type of investigations will they pursue to gather evidence? Will they work with private investigators or depend mainly on police reports?
While they may not be able to go into extensive detail at a consultation, your attorney should still be able to give you a general idea of the strategies they may use to support your claim.
Do You Have Access to Reputable Expert Witnesses and Other Professionals?
When dealing with catastrophic injuries, your losses can be significant. Your personal injury attorney should be able to calculate your full damages, and this can often mean relying on experts who can estimate lost earning potential and other complex losses.
Additionally, for cases involving medical malpractice, you will need to present an affidavit of merit with your claim. This must come from a medical professional in a relevant field. Your attorney should have an array of potential contacts you can rely on for this.
How Long Do You Estimate This Case Will Take?
Personal injury claims can be unpredictable when it comes to how long they may take, but your lawyer can offer a bit of insight into what the process can involve. They should be able to tell you how quickly negotiations may begin and how long they’ll continue fighting for a settlement before considering litigation.
If your case does go to trial, getting a sense of the various stages of this process is also crucial. Ask about the discovery phase and how long the actual trial could take.
What Are Your Communication Practices?
Some personal injury lawyers prefer to contact you only when there is news about your case, while others provide weekly updates so that you don’t feel like you’re on your own. Consider your personal preferences, and ensure that you know how you can reach your attorney.
If you feel more comfortable speaking on the phone than communicating through email, for example, you should choose a lawyer who will keep that in mind. Additionally, ask them how long it typically takes them to return a call.
What Level of Involvement Will You Have in My Case?
It’s always important to have an attorney who is hands-on with your case. This can sometimes be an issue with very large firms that take on many claims. Paralegals could be handling your case more than attorneys, and that may not be what you’re looking for.
What Types of Fees Do You Charge?
Catastrophic injury attorneys, just like other personal injury lawyers, often work on contingency. They don’t usually charge any upfront fees. Instead, they receive a percentage of your winnings. The exact percentage will depend on many factors, including whether the case goes to trial. Ask about the number you can expect.
What Documentation Should I Start Gathering?
It’s helpful to have actionable steps you can take. Your lawyer can give you a list of information they may need to start working on your case, including medical records, photos of your injuries, insurance information, and even eyewitness statements, if you have them. They may request that you gather receipts, too, that show the expenses you’ve incurred.
FAQ
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Catastrophic Injury?
In Ohio, the statute of limitations is typically two years for a personal injury claim. There are numerous exceptions, however, that could further limit how long you have. It’s always best to speak with an attorney as quickly as possible so that you don’t miss any deadlines.
What Factors Will Impact What My Claim Is Worth?
Your claim’s worth will depend on factors like the severity of the injuries you sustained and the evidence you have demonstrating that the defendant caused your losses. Whether you’ll be able to return to work and whether you hold any responsibility for your injuries also matter.
Do I Have to Pay for the Initial Consultation?
No, personal injury lawyers typically offer free consultations. You are also under no obligation to hire the attorney if you’re not satisfied with their answers to your questions.
Turn to Our Skilled Lawyers After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury
After sustaining a life-altering injury, you deserve support from attorneys with a long-standing legacy of excellence. At The Moore Law Firm, our experienced Cincinnati team can guide you every step of the way through the claims process, fighting for your rights and uncovering every dollar you are owed along the way.
Contact us to schedule a free case assessment today.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one as a result of another person's negligence, you deserve to be fully compensated for your losses. The simple fact is that you should not be forced to pay the price for another person's careless or reckless actions.