How to Determine Medical Expenses from a Car Accident

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, approximately three million people are non fatally injured in a car accident each year in the United States. Costs for medical care from crash related injuries combined with productivity losses topped $75 billion in 2017. Injuries sustained from automobile accidents can result in many injuries which may not even be apparent at the time of the crash. 

The most common types of injuries from automobile accidents include whiplash, skull fractures and pelvic fractures with whiplash the most common type of injury incurred by a rear end collision. Whiplash can cause many symptoms, some that may get better after a few weeks, a few months or may linger for many years in severe cases. Whiplash may cause many symptoms:

• Neck pain and stiffness

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Tingling or numbness in your arms

• Fatigue

• Loss of range of motion in your neck

• Worsening of pain with neck movement

Some of these symptoms may get better over time, while in other cases whiplash can cause traumatic brain injury that affects your ongoing earning ability and quality of life with symptoms such as:

• Blurred vision

• Ringing in the ears

• Memory problems

• Difficulty concentrating

If you experience any of these symptoms following a car accident it is important to seek medical attention right away and speak with a car accident attorney. Medical expenses may continue after an initial emergency room visit and could develop into long term medical conditions. You may experience ongoing medical expenses, physical therapy, surgery or lost wages. Speak with an experienced auto accident attorney to recover full medical expenses and damages for loss of wages, pain and suffering. 

How Auto Accident Attorneys Help Determine Medical Costs

Schiff & Associates Co., LPA is an experienced personal injury lawyer in Ohio, offering a full team of experts and respected specialists. We analyze your current injuries and expenses, forecast future losses and fight for your rights. Since 1982, we have been helping accident victims to receive the compensation they deserve from a multitude of injuries, including damages for whiplash, serious nonfatal injuries and wrongful death cases. 

Our team of experts fights on your behalf to recover the full medical expenses and range of damages you are entitled to under the law. We work with our respected in-house CPA and a broad range of medical experts including vocational rehabilitation counselors to assess your total current and future losses. 

Schiff & Associates offers an experienced legal team with a history of getting our clients the results they deserve since 1982. We know that your financial recovery is just as critical as your physical recovery following an auto accident. Contact us for a free initial consultation and speak with a leading personal injury attorney in Columbus, Ohio.

Top 5 Things NOT to Do After an Automobile Accident

Automobile accidents range from a fender bender with no injuries, to one that may cause serious injuries or even death. If you are involved in any type of car accident, here are some tips on what NOT to do. In the state of Ohio and any other at-fault state (as opposed to no-fault states) the person who caused the accident, who is at fault, is responsible and their auto insurance should compensate you for any damages including damages to your car and medical bills. 

You should know that it is important to contact the police for a police report when involved in an auto accident and trade information with the other driver, specifically their contact and insurance information. There are some other things, however, that you should not do as compiled from a top Ohio personal injury attorney. Here’s our list of the top 5 things NOT to do after a car accident:

1) Do Not Apologize

It may be in your nature to say “I’m sorry” when involved in any car accident, whether or not it was your fault. Be careful, these two little words could be used against you by the other insurance carrier and construed as an admittance of guilt. Feel free to check on the other driver without offering an apology, it’s always OK to ask if they are all right, just don’t mutter an apology when the accident was clearly not your fault and even if you think it may have been your fault. Do not admit guilt to the other driver, witnesses or police until speaking with your own auto accident attorney. 

2) Do Not Trust the Other Driver to Do What’s Right Without Police or Insurance Involvement

This happens more frequently than we like, someone runs into you and begs you to not call the police because they cannot afford an insurance hike or a ticket. As compelling an argument as they could make at the time, there is no way you can trust this individual to do what’s right. They may offer to pay you directly for damages, although in our experience this never pans out and you may be left with no compensation for damages to your car or medical expenses. 

Always make a report so that you do have proof of the accident, record the facts including make, model and license plate number of the other vehicle. Take pictures of damages if you can. 

3) Don’t Wait to Visit a Doctor

Always err on the side of caution even when you don’t think you experienced any serious injury. Frequently, car accidents cause injuries that are not noticed right away and may worsen over time. This gives you peace of mind in knowing nothing serious may have occurred, like whiplash, a back or spinal cord injury that you may not even be aware of, while also providing proof that your injuries were caused by the accident. 

4) Do not Speak Directly with Their Insurance Company

The insurance company representing the at-fault driver has a goal to minimize their claim amount and pay out as little as possible. This is where the expertise of your own car accident attorney will provide you great benefit. Take the advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer and never talk to the other insurance company before first speaking with your own lawyer. This is very important, as they will most likely want to record your phone call and can use anything you say against you to reduce your settlement. 

5) Never Accept a Lowball Settlement Offer

You may be contacted rather quickly following an accident by the insurance company wanting to offer you a cash settlement. Never accept this offer before you speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who has your best interest in mind. In many cases, if you are left out of work for a few days or weeks, they will be aware of this and will count on you needing some quick cash. Resist the urge to accept a lowball offer and first talk to a personal injury lawyer to determine what a fair settlement amount should be. 

Schiff & Associates is here to help, with legal services to protect you and your rights. If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation. We guide you in the best way to respond in cases of a car accident and always fight for the fair settlement you deserve.

What You Need to Know When Injured in a Car Accident

An automobile accident which leaves you or a loved one injured is a traumatic experience, especially when serious injuries or fatalities occur due to another’s negligence. Serious injuries such as spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may leave someone permanently disabled with severe impact to enjoying the same quality of life. 

If you or a loved one has been injured or worse, from a car accident that you feel was due to the negligence of another person, don’t wait in contacting a personal injury attorney. 

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps Car Accident Victims

It’s important to contact an experienced personal injury law firm such as Schiff & Associates quickly after an accident. We answer all your questions and put all your fears to rest. For nearly 30 years, Schiff & Associates has been fighting for the rights of accident victims, putting all our years of experience to work on your behalf. 

In many cases, your immediate and long term ability to make a comparable standard of living could be affected. We understand the devastation crippling accidents can cause to your and your family. We determine the true cost of your injuries and work with medical and rehabilitation specialists to help determine the extent of your losses, short and long term. 

In the tragic event of wrongful death, you need the guidance of an experienced car accident attorney to help you with all unfortunate ramifications. This is an extremely unsettling time where your attention should be focused on helping your family through difficult times. Schiff & Associates helps you to obtain the settlement you deserve, including payment for things like advice, guidance and grief counseling as well as current and future loss of income, loss of companionship and punitive damages. 

We understand how upsetting any type of car accident can be. Contact a professional who can help you focus on what’s important and fight for your rights. 

Schiff & Associates have provided trusted legal representation in many car accidents, personal injury and wrongful death cases since 1982. We have a reputation for getting clients the financial recovery they deserve so they can focus on their physical recovery. Contact us for more information and to speak with the top personal injury attorney in Ohio.

Why You Need an Attorney in a Personal Injury Case

You may be reluctant to hire a personal injury attorney as you think it is too expensive and are seriously considering settling with the insurance company on your own.  There are several reasons why this can be a bad idea.

To start with, just the fact that you have an experienced attorney representing you can make a difference in the outcome and be well worth the amount of money you pay the lawyer.  The insurance company now knows you have an expert representing your claim who is someone who is not going to be persuaded to take an unfair settlement.   Furthermore, remember the insurance representatives have been advised by their lawyers, which is all more the reason why you need one working on your behalf.   

Other reasons to hire your own attorney include the fact that personal injury cases can be complicated and involve complex legal rules that a lay person does not know anything about.  Or it may be your injuries are so severe that your compensation should exceed the amount that is normally awarded.  Also a skilled personal injury lawyer can help to get you a fair settlement when the insurance company was not willing to settle in good faith.   Another thing to remember is that most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you will not pay any legal costs or fees unless there is a settlement. 

The law firm of Schiff & Associates has been providing our clients with quality legal representation and personal services in cases of personal injury and wrongful death for thirty-five years.  Please visit our website for information on how to set up a complimentary case evaluation and consultation.   

The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

When the Unthinkable Happens

If your loved one has died as the result of someone else’s negligence, you need a trusted lawyer at your side to fight for your family’s rights.  Fatalities that are the result of motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, or product liability are often very complicated and require an experienced attorney who has the expertise to determine who is responsible.  Depending on the circumstances, a case may involve persons, companies, and/or governmental agencies that are legally at fault for acting negligently and/or for acting intentionally.    

The attorneys at Schiff & Associates understand that while no amount of money can make up for the loss of your loved one, we are committed to helping you through this difficult time.  Our team will get to work to seek compensation for your losses including current and future wages from the deceased, lost companionship, funeral expenses, and in some cases punitive damages. 

Several of our attorneys specialize in wrongful death cases such as Craig T. Smith, whose focus is on obtaining settlements, particularly in wrongful death and serious injury cases. To each case, Craig brings his solid legal background as well as a commitment to helping people who are in difficult circumstances. In fact he says that “There’s a satisfaction that comes when I make a difference in people’s lives.”

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of our experienced attorneys can be the first step toward relieving your financial burden as well as seeing to it that the responsible party accepts responsibility for the accident. Contact us to set up a complimentary case evaluation and consultation.  As we will represent you on a contingency basis, you will pay no attorney costs or fees unless we successfully recover a settlement.

The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Information You Need to Know After a Motor Vehicle Accident

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, one of the most important things you can do is to stay calm.  If anyone is hurt, you need to immediately call an ambulance and always call the police.  If the police do not show up, you still need to file a police report as well as to notify your insurance company. 

At the scene of the accident, you should try to move the vehicle out of the way if possible and keep yourself and others out of the way of moving traffic.  You need to exchange information with the other driver/drivers including names, drivers’ license numbers, phone numbers, addresses, insurance companies, policy numbers and license plate’s numbers.  Also you will want to take down the information regarding the vehicle/vehicles involved in the accident including the make, model year and color of the care.  Experts recommend that you protect your I.D. and that you do not hand them to another driver or let them photograph your driver’s license.

Record the location where the accident occurred and the details of how the accident happened. Use your smart phone to take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and to the other vehicles.  If there are witnesses to the accident, you should get a statement from them as well as their names and phone numbers.   

If you or your family’s injuries are non-critical, seek medical attention as soon as possible.   Even if you feel you were not hurt in the accident, it is still a good idea to see your doctor as symptoms may not show up for a few days.  

Schiff & Associates is an experienced personal injury law firm with a long history of recovering the maximum compensation for our clients for injuries and property damage that occurred as a result of a motor vehicle accident.  Please visit our website to learn more.

The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Should You Get an Attorney After a Car Accident?

If you have been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, it is recommended that you hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to avoid making costly and irreparable mistakes.  Even if you belief your injuries will eventually improve, your recovery may take much longer than anticipated, and in the meantime you are faced with ongoing medical costs.  In addition to your medical bills you may be unable to work and have other related expenses so the sooner you have on attorney working on your behalf, the better.  Also please keep in mind that there are deadlines for filing personal injury claims.

In addition to recovering the actual costs associated with the accident you may also be entitled to compensation for your “pain and suffering.”   The amount of money you receive “generally depends on the seriousness of your injuries, any aggravating circumstances, and the length of your recovery. For instance, if you suffer a broken femur and undergo multiple surgeries, the pain and suffering you experience is naturally going to be worse than that from a minor fender bender.”

Schiff & Associates is a respected Columbus, Ohio law firm specializing in personal injury law.  All of our attorneys have years of experience, and for every case, we aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation our clients are entitled to.  In the event we cannot reach a settlement through negotiation, our attorneys are ready to take the case to trial.  We know that it can be as important for a person to recover financially from an accident as it can be to recover physically.  Please visit our website to learn more about Schiff & Associates. Your initial evaluation and consultation is free.   

The experienced attorneys at Schiff & Associates have offered the area trusted legal representation in cases of personal injury and wrongful death since 1982.  We have a history of getting clients the results they deserve and recognize that financial recovery from an accident is just as important as physical recovery.  Call today for information regarding legal services from Columbus, Ohio’s top personal injury lawyer.

Source: alllaw.com/articles/nolo/auto-accident/pain-and-suffering-from-car-accident.html