Car Accidents
Within and nearby to the Mason community, drivers can find quiet residential roads, winding rural streets, and busy interstates. Any one of these roadways can be the site of a traffic crash, and severe car accidents are not limited to only highways and freeways. No matter where your car accident happens in Mason or in Warren County, you can trust the talented car accident attorneys at Norris Persinger Law to use their skills and knowledge to help you get compensation.
You may be owed compensation for your injuries if another driver caused your injury. When the insurance companies do not give you sufficient compensation to address your needs and losses, a lawsuit is the way to ensure you are made whole.
How Likely Am I to Get into a Car Wreck in Mason?
As recently as 2017, Warren County ranked as one of the state’s most dangerous in terms of fatal car crashes. The Dayton Daily News reported that in that year, there were 140,031 crashes involving teenagers and over 3,300 of them were in Warren County.
Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in the number of fatal crashes in Warren County. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that in 2020, there were six fatal crashes that took place in rural areas and nine that happened in urban areas. This increased to 17 fatal crashes in rural areas in 2022 and six that same year in urban areas. In 2020, the county only experienced six fatal impaired driving accidents. By 2022, that number jumped to 13.
There has also been an increase in the number of fatal wrecks involving motorcycles and commercial vehicles between 2020 and 2022.
How Do I Deal with Insurance Companies After a Car Accident?
Whether your crash happens in Ohio or in Kentucky, you will receive a call from an insurance claims representative or adjuster shortly after your accident. The call will typically occur because you or another involved driver have filed an insurance claim seeking damages. In calling you, the representative will want to gather information about the crash and determine whether a claim should be paid.
In speaking with the representative, keep the following in mind:
Do I have to speak to the representative?
You have no legal obligation to speak to the insurance adjustor or representative. In fact, some people choose not to do so because these conversations are typically recorded. Because of this, some people are hesitant to give any statement to the insurance companies because they are afraid any statement they make will be used to limit their compensation.
If you have an attorney, your auto injury lawyer can handle conversations with the insurance company. If you have not yet retained counsel before the representative calls, you can elect not to speak with the representative. Choosing not to do so may keep you from making a comment that does not help your claim, but it may also increase the amount of time it takes for your claim to be approved.
If I do speak with the representative, what should I say?
The insurance adjustor or representative with whom you speak will ask you questions about the crash, including what you were doing and what you remember about the accident. When answering questions, you should be truthful. This does not mean that you need to volunteer information of which you are not sure. You should not report something as happening unless you are positive it occurred. Instead, saying “I do not know” is an acceptable response.
Next, avoid saying that you were at fault in any way. Determining fault is what the adjusters and attorneys do once they have compiled all of the evidence they need. You do not need to help them in their jobs by claiming the accident was your fault.
Last, avoid commenting on the extent of your injuries. Do not make comments that you were not hurt too badly or that you have made a full recovery. The insurance company may request copies of your pertinent medical records which will tell them this information. If you received a diagnosis after your car crash, you may share that with the insurance company. Otherwise, referring them to your medical records can be an acceptable course of action.
The best way to protect your interests when dealing with the insurance companies is to hire the services of an experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney, such as those found at Norris Persinger Law. We can handle the stress of talking with insurers so you can focus on healing from your injuries.
What Must I Know About Getting Compensation After a Car Accident?
In many cases, if you are hurt or your car is damaged in a car accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay your claim for damages. You would submit a claim with that driver’s insurance company and, provided that it is clear that driver is at fault, your claim would be paid up to the policy’s limits. This can take just a matter of a few short weeks.
Following a car accident, the compensation you are able to pursue and receive are meant to compensate you for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Any loss you experienced as a result of the car crash is potentially compensable.
What if there are questions about fault or my injuries?
It can take longer for your claim to be paid if there are questions about who is at fault or if there is a dispute over the extent of your injuries. In this case, it may take more than a few weeks for the insurance company to review the available evidence and pay your claim. If factual disputes exist, then a lawsuit may need to be pursued. A lawsuit may also be necessary if an insurance claim does not fully compensate you for your losses.
Will I have to go to trial to get compensation?
The odds are that you and your auto injury attorney will be able to resolve your case through a settlement involving an insurance claim. If a satisfactory settlement can be reached, then you will not need to go to trial or testify in a court setting. It is only when a settlement cannot be reached, either because you and the other party cannot agree on who caused the crash or the extent of your injuries and losses, that a trial becomes necessary.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of going to trial?
At trial, there is the potential to receive greater compensation than you would get through an insurance claim or settlement. This can be especially beneficial if you are severely hurt but the other party is refusing to offer you a reasonable settlement amount. However, it can take several months before your case is tried, and during this time you would not receive any compensation.
Moreover, there is a chance the judge or jury will not find in your favor. If this happens, you may not receive any compensation whatsoever.
This represents another reason why hiring a car accident attorney from Norris Persinger Law is a good decision. Your attorney can evaluate the facts of your case and help you make an informed decision about settling your case or taking it to trial. Where a trial is your only option, a skillful attorney can ensure your case is thoroughly investigated and persuasively presented so as to give you the best opportunity of success.
Why Is Norris Persinger Law the Right Choice for Me?
There are many attorneys in Ohio, but not all of them have the experience and background in litigation and negotiation to make good auto injury attorneys. At Norris Persinger Law, we value providing our clients with useful counsel and top-notch representation. If you have been hurt or suffered any sort of loss in a car wreck in Mason, let Norris Persinger Law help you with your recovery. Contact us today.
