Columbus Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in an accident in Columbus, it is important to understand your legal rights and what to do to ensure you get the maximum compensation for your damages. Whether from a car crash, construction accident, motorcycle wreck, or otherwise, anytime a person is injured as a result of another person’s fault, the seriousness of that person’s injuries should not be minimized. However, for purposes of personal injury claims in Ohio, the law treats certain injuries different than others, which may affect the amount of compensation that person recovers in a settlement or jury award, contact our experienced Columbus personal injury attorneys today.

Skilled Personal Injury Lawyers, Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A.

Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. has an earned reputation for success and is experienced in handling catastrophic injury claims. Most experienced catastrophic injury attorneys in Columbus, Ohio will tell you that having a skilled attorney can be beneficial in many ways. As discussed above, establishing that an injury is catastrophic, and therefore should not have the damages caps apply, can be a difficult burden to meet. Not only is our law firm experienced and skilled in working these claims, but we also have earned a reputation for success over the years with our members being recognized as:

The National Trial Lawyers Top 100;
The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40;
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators;
Top 100 Jury Verdicts in the United States.

Our law firm can ensure that you are being fully compensated for your losses. Having a Columbus personal injury lawyer can ensure that an individual is being fully compensated for his or her losses. Often times, insurance companies can present arguments to try avoiding accountability for such losses. As such, major disputes can arise over whether an individual should receive compensation for a type of loss and the extent to which compensation should be given for the loss that person has experienced.

Common Personal Injury Cases In Ohio

There are a variety of common personal injuries in Ohio, including car accidents, slip and falls, motorcycle accidents, workplace injuries, dog bites, wrongful death, and more.Other types of personal injuries in Ohio include construction accidents, nursing home abuse, defective products, medical malpractice, and construction defects.

When an Ohio resident is injured in a motor vehicle crash or other accident caused by the negligence of another individual or company, he or she may be entitled to compensation for his or her losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Victims of personal injury have the right to pursue compensation through the court system or through insurance settlements with negligent parties. However, it is important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that you are treated fairly and receive the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled.

Characteristics Of A Catastrophic Injury

For purposes of how the law treats injuries differently, Ohio Revised Code 2315.18 defines catastrophic injuries to include the following characteristics:

Permanent and substantial physical deformity;
Loss of use of a limb;
Loss of a bodily organ system; and
Permanent physical functional injury that permanently prevents the injured person from being able to independently care for self and perform life-sustaining activities.

Common Catastrophic Injury Cases In Ohio

While some of the above categories may seem more understandable, defining “permanent and substantial physical deformity” can sometimes be difficult. However, below are common examples of injuries that qualify as catastrophic under Ohio law:

Significant scarring (surgical or otherwise);
Surgically implanted hardware (such as rods, pins, or artificial parts);
Misshapen, unnatural, or distorted conditions;
Amputation injuries;
Eye injuries that result in loss of vision;
Injuries that result in loss of speech;
Neck and back injuries that result in being paralyzed;
Internal injuries to organs, such as traumatic brain injuries, that require a caregiver.

Ohio Personal Injury Claims

For injuries that do not meet the above categories, Ohio law places limitations (also known as “damage caps”) on how much a jury can compensate a plaintiff for his or her non-economic damages. Unlike economic losses, which typically include financial losses such as lost wages and medical expenses, non-economic damages typically include the following components: physical pain and suffering, anxiety, mental distress, loss of enjoyment of life, inability to perform ordinary activities, and physical impairment and permanency. Often times, non-economic damages are the ones that are most significant and meaningful to a person experiencing these losses.

Under Ohio Revised Code 2323.43, if the Plaintiff’s injuries do not meet the criteria set forth above(e.g. permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of an organ, loss of a limb, etc.), juries can only compensate that individual for either $250,000.00 or three times the economic losses, whichever is greater. If you were injured and have questions as to whether the damages to your personal injury claims are capped, we would strongly encourage you to call and discuss your unique circumstances with an experienced Columbus catastrophic injury attorney.

Contact An Experienced Columbus Personal Injury Attorney Today

Our Columbus personal injury lawyers not only recognize the types of losses that should be compensated but know how to support the arguments necessary to achieve value for those losses. This includes working with treating physicians and medical experts to ensure that those with significant injuries can be compensated for all of their losses, including, but not limited to their future medical expenses, the permanency their injuries present, the significant limitations that those injuries impose of daily life, and other similar type losses.

Please call (614) 221-4035 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and to speak with the Columbus injury attorneys at Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. about your potential claims.