Dayton Car Accident Attorney

Dealing with a car accident is stressful in any situation. However, it’s even worse when the crash wasn’t your fault and the other side isn’t cooperating. You might be worried about how to handle the new, unexpected costs you are experiencing due to someone else’s negligence. The Dayton car accident attorneys with Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law are here to protect your rights during the personal injury claim process.

Our experienced Dayton car accident lawyers help regular people like you stand up against insurance companies and defendants trying to prevent you from recovering fair and maximum compensation for your car accident claim. Contact us today for a free case review to learn more about your rights.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Dayton, Ohio are:

• Distracted driving – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attributed more than 3,500 traffic fatalities in one recent year to distracted driving. Still, experts believe these numbers are drastically underreported because people do not want to take responsibility for this dangerous action following a serious car crash.
• Speeding – Drivers may be late to work or an appointment, in a hurry to get to a destination, or driving too fast for conditions, which can increase the likelihood of causing a crash.
• Running red lights and stop signs – The NHTSA reports that approximately 40 percent of automobile accidents occur at intersections. One common reason for these car accidents is running red lights or stop signs.
• Impaired driving – More than 16,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving impaired drivers in one recent year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alcohol can have the following negative effects on a driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle:
  • Impair a driver’s judgment
  • Complicate the driver’s ability to see clearly
  • Make it more difficult to brake appropriately
  • Creat difficulty in maintaining the vehicle in the same lane,
  • Complicate the ability to handle multiple tasks at one time
  • Interfere with the ability to accurately gauge distance
  • Reduce coordination
  • Make it difficult to steer
  • Impede the ability to understand an emergency.

Some drugs have similar effects.

• Drowsy driving – Some studies have shown that drowsy driving, in which a driver is sleepy or exhausted, might be just as dangerous as impaired driving.
• Aggressive driving – Aggressive driving behaviors like excessive speeding, weaving in and out of lanes, “brake checking,” and intentionally violating traffic laws can put other motorists in danger. Some drivers intentionally cause crashes by ramming into other vehicles or running them off the road.

An experienced Dayton car accident lawyer from Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law can investigate the accident and identify the causes and parties responsible for it.

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Car Accidents

Various factors can affect the injuries victims suffer, including the following:

Some of the most common car accident injuries victims sustain include the following:

What to Do After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault

Ohio is an at-fault state for car insurance, meaning that the driver at fault for the accident is responsible for paying the damages they caused. However, drivers and insurance companies are unlikely to quickly admit fault and try to make things right for you.

Here are some steps you can take to protect your health and car accident claim:

Check for Injuries

Perform a self-evaluation to determine if you have any obvious signs or symptoms of injury. Ask others involved in the accident if they were injured. If anyone was injured, call 911 and report the injury. Make sure everyone is out of the way of danger to avoid any secondary injuries.

Report the Accident

Call the police and report the accident. This can help establish the accident occurred and start the process of making an official report you can provide to the insurance company in support of your car accident claim.

Exchange Information

While law enforcement will likely request information from the other driver, it can be helpful and faster for you to make your claim if you request it yourself, too. Ask the other driver for the following information:

• The other driver’s name, address, and telephone number
• The driver’s insurance company and policy number
• Identifying information for the vehicle

If any witnesses saw the accident, request their contact information.

Take Pictures or Video

If possible, try to take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and damage to all vehicles involved in the accident. Also, note whether there are any nearby traffic cameras or surveillance cameras.

Seek Medical Attention

The most important thing you can do after a car accident is to seek medical treatment. Not all car accident injuries are immediately apparent. Symptoms may take time to develop. A doctor can ask questions and conduct tests to identify all your accident-related injuries.

In addition to protecting your health and preventing further injury, seeking medical treatment shows the insurance company that your injuries are serious and require medical attention. Your medical bills and records can also create a link between your injuries and the car crash.

Keep Your Records

You might receive various papers and other evidence related to the accident. Keep all of these records and provide them to your Dayton car accident lawyer, including the following:

Consult with an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

After an accident, you must concentrate on your health and recovery. A qualified car accident lawyer in Dayton, Ohio can handle the legal aspects of your claim.

Be Wary of the Insurance Company

Despite the heartwarming advertisements about how insurance companies will be there for us when we need them, it is critical to understand that insurance companies’ interests are directly opposed to yours as an accident victim. You want to recover fair compensation to pay for the medical bills, lost wages, and other losses you experienced because of someone else’s negligence. The insurance company wants to minimize payouts to protect its profit margin.

This inherent conflict may incentivize the insurance company to take the following questionable tactics:

• Contacting car accident victims soon after an accident to try to get them to say they’re fine or minimize their injuries
• Trying to get drivers to admit fault for the accident
• Telling claimants that they must give a recorded statement to the insurer for them to process the insurance claim
• Sending medical record request forms to try to uncover any pre-existing condition to deny the insurance claim
• Offering a fast settlement before claimants can calculate the full extent of their damages
• Making blanket denials of claims without investigating the case
• Intentionally delaying claims so that accident victims get desperate and accept a lower settlement or give up altogether
• Telling claimants that they do not need a lawyer

As experienced Dayton car accident attorneys, we are familiar with these and other insurance tactics. We can protect your rights and ensure you are treated fairly.

Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims in Ohio

In general, the statute of limitations for car accidents in Ohio is two years from the accident date. If you fail to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver within this timeframe, you can be barred from seeking relief through the court system. Don’t let this happen to you. Contact an experienced car accident attorney to preserve your rights.

Compensation Available in Ohio Car Crashes

If you are injured in a car crash, you may be able to recover compensation for the economic and non-economic losses you have suffered. Car accident compensation might provide payment for:

• Medical expenses, including payment for future care
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Costs to repair or replace your vehicle
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Permanent disability or scarring

Get in Touch with an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Dayton, OH Today

If you were in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you likely have questions and concerns. The Dayton car accident lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, we are here to provide you with dedicated legal assistance and support. We offer a free consultation so you can discuss your case in detail with one of our experienced Dayton personal injury attorneys. Contact us today for help.