Columbus Personal Injury Attorney

Section 2315.18 of the Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.) defines a catastrophic injury as one that inflicts A permanent and substantial physical deformity, The loss of a limb or the loss of use of a limb, The loss of an internal organ or eye, and/or A permanent injury that permanently prevents the injured person from being able to independently care for themselves and perform life-sustaining activities without assistance. Here, “life-sustaining activities” covers a broad range of actions such as holding a full-time job, managing one’s own finances, or living by themselves in a house or apartment. An inability to perform life-sustaining activities could result from a traumatic brain injury, but it could also result from a combination of physical injuries that do not inflict an intellectual disability. Although the state statute does not explicitly use the term “catastrophic,” drawing a clear legal distinction between the listed injuries and other types of injuries a person might suffer in an a...

Yes, Medicaid does affect personal injury settlements. No, this should not discourage anyone who has Medicaid coverage in Ohio from attempting to hold the person or company that caused their injuries accountable through insurance claims or a lawsuit. Medicaid Covers Now and Seeks Reimbursement Later First, know that Ohio Medicaid will cover emergency and follow-up care for injuries suffered in a car crash, truck accident, slip and fall, dog attack, or other accident that would give you grounds for filing a personal injury claim. You do not need to worry about paying all the medical expenses forced upon you by someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior. It is also true that Medicaid will demand reimbursement from any settlement or jury award you receive. The program will only take an amount equal to what it spent in covering your care, though. In most cases, you will hold onto some or all of the compensation you received for lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, a...

For the most part, the legal principles that apply to pedestrian and bicycle accidents also apply to crashes involving the e-scooters people rent from micro mobility startups like Bird and Lime. A car or truck driver will be liable for settling injury claims when the driver caused the collision. In cases where the scooter rider is determined to be primarily responsible, the rider will need to rely on their own health insurance policy. Very few people who use Bird or Lime scooter will find it possible to sue the company. More on that later. Who’s Liable When a Driver Hits a Scooter Rider? The answer will depend on how and where the collision occurred. Ohio courts recognize the concept of comparative negligence, which means that the person who is 51 percent responsible for causing a crash has a legal duty to compensate the individuals who suffer injuries from the collision. In real-world terms, a distracted or speeding driver who hits a scooter rider from behind while the rider is opera...

Ohio Car Crashes – by the Numbers: In a recent year, the Ohio State Patrol logged 25,228 operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI) arrests, 13,338 drug arrests, and troopers issued 115,541 safety belt citations. These statistics give some indication that there are many drivers out there whose mind and attention is not necessarily on safe vehicle operation. Add texting while driving to the mix and it is no wonder car crashes are a daily occurrence. According to a report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “one in nine drivers has been seriously injured in a crash and nearly one in five has been involved in a serious crash.” If you have been involved in a car accident, I am the Columbus car accident lawyer who can help you. Get Fair Car Accident Compensation with the Help of Columbus Car Accident Lawyer A car accident can leave a devastating mark on your life. Not only is there the loss of property to deal with, but a car accident can leave lasting physical, emotional and financia...

Ohio law permits victims of someone else’s negligence or recklessness to claim two basic types of damages in personal injury cases. These are damages for economic losses and damages for noneconomic losses. In certain circumstances, an individual who suffered personal injuries can also claim punitive damages. Before getting into an explanation of what constitutes an economic loss and a noneconomic loss, it is important to state that damages for those losses can be claimed in all types of personal injury cases and in cases involving wrongful deaths. This means that the victim, a surviving family member, or a legal executor can claim damages following an injury or death from A car, truck, or motorcycle crash; A pedestrian accident; A bike or scooter crash; A truck crash; A slip or fall, which is a category that also covers near-drowning, drowning, electric shocks, and electrocutions; A dog bite or animal attack; Medical malpractice; Nursing home neglect or abuse; A medica...