The great state of Ohio has specific laws and regulations that govern personal injury cases within the state. If you’re involved in a personal injury case in Ohio, it’s important to understand these laws.
Here are some key aspects of Ohio personal injury laws:
Statute of Limitations: In Ohio, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is typically two years from the date of the injury or discovery of the injury. This means you generally have two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. Failure to file within this timeframe may result in the loss of your right to seek compensation.
It’s important to note this doesn’t apply to all cases. Claims against government entities often have shorter notice periods and different procedures.
Comparative Negligence: Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means that if you are partially at fault for the accident or injury, your compensation may be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you may not be eligible to recover damages.
No-Fault Insurance: Ohio is a “fault” or “tort” state for car accidents, meaning that the at-fault driver’s insurance is generally responsible for compensating the injured party. Ohio law does not require drivers to carry no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
Damages: In Ohio, you may be eligible to recover both economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury case. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other financial losses. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life.
Caps on Damages: Ohio has placed caps on non-economic damages in certain types of personal injury cases, particularly medical malpractice cases. These caps limit the amount of compensation a plaintiff can receive for pain and suffering but do not apply to economic damages.
Workers’ Compensation: Ohio has a workers’ compensation system in place to provide benefits to employees who are injured on the job. In most cases, this system limits the right to sue an employer for workplace injuries but provides no-fault benefits to injured workers.
Dog Bite Liability: Ohio has a “strict liability” statute for dog bites, meaning that dog owners are typically held liable for injuries caused by their dogs, regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of it.
Wrongful Death: Ohio has specific laws that allow surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim if a loved one dies as a result of someone else’s negligence. Damages in a wrongful death case may include funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the emotional suffering of surviving family members.
If you’ve recently been injured due to an accident or incident, you don’t want to move forward with your personal injury case without the help of an Ohio personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer serves as an advocate for you, protecting your legal rights and pursuing the best possible outcome, whether through a settlement or trial.
Contact 1-8000-Injured, a medical and legal referral network, to connect with an Ohio personal injury lawyer. An experienced attorney in our vast network will be able to help you understand your rights, navigate the legal process, and maximize your chances of obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.