In the aftermath of a significant auto accident, there’s plenty to think about.
Of course, your health and wellbeing plus the same for anyone else involved is the first priority but if you were not at primary fault, you might be assessing your options or considering further action against a reckless driver or someone that caused general pain and suffering during the course of the accident. As you consider your options, you’re going to have to enlist the help of a trusted personal injury attorney, but how do you know you’re hiring the right one for your case?
Ohio’s Comparative Negligence Law
First, it’s important to understand that Ohio follows “comparative negligence”, which examines the amount of fault of all parties involved in an accident to determine potential damage awards. The comparative negligence standard allows for many parties to be held partially or even fully at fault for any damages caused by the accident. Each party is assigned a percentage of fault for the incident, and this percentage corresponds to the percentage of damages that a party can obtain by pursuing a personal injury claim.
Questions to Ask An Auto Accident Attorney
Knowing this, you should consider asking any potential attorney some of the following questions to better understand if they’re right for you:
- What is the attorney’s daily workload?
Starting off with this question can help you quickly judge if the attorney has the time to take on your case. If he/she or the firm seems too busy, you may not get the attention you deserve.
- Does the attorney want to try lawsuits in court or does the firm prefer settlements or referrals to other attorneys for the trial work?
Different firms have different approaches when it comes to what they want the final outcome to be. Some will opt to do the work themselves, while others may do initial work, then farm out the rest to another firm for an additional fee (which may come out of any final settlement).
- Does the attorney/firm have the resources to take on my case?
If your case requires the help of experts and the insight of other professionals, you need to make sure the firm has the resources to help manage that. Sometimes, a single attorney firm may not have access to everything you need to build your best case.
- What are all of the charges involved?
This one goes without saying, but you should absolutely have a clear picture of all fees and charges upfront and any reliable personal injury attorney should be transparently willing to discuss those with you.
At Garretson & Holcomb, LLC, we’re proud to be a trusted source for personal injury representation in Butler and Warren counties. Call us today at (513) 863-6600 to learn more about how we can help you potentially recover damages if you’ve been in an auto accident.
