Car Accidents

If you suffered personal injuries through no fault of your own, you deserve compensation for your losses. You may be wondering, How much will I get for pain and suffering from a car accident? The amount of pain and suffering in a car accident you endured, plus other factors can determine how much you recover.  You have only one chance to recover financial damages from your crash. Therefore, you should trust your valuable rights to the car accident lawyers with Gounaris Abboud, LPA. Our attorneys have experienced tremendous success winning cases for clients who sustained injuries in Ohio car accidents through no fault of their own. Unlike other law firms, we have a proven track record of success along with the resources to help you maximize your recovery. How Much for Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident Claim in Ohio? Monetary damage awards in Ohio may be broken down into two categories: economic and noneconomic losses. Economic losses—often referred to as compensatory damages—refer to the amount of money you lost because of your accident. Section 2315.18 of the Ohio Revised Code defines economic losses as any monetary loss relating to: Additionally, economic losses include future economic losses or medical expenses. It is important to note that Section 2315.18 explicitly states that Ohio law does not cap compensation for economic losses.  How Much Pain and Suffering for a Car Accident? Unlike economic losses, Section 2315.18 caps car accident pain and suffering compensation in certain situations. Section 2315.18 refers to these damages as noneconomic losses. Noneconomic losses include any physical, mental, psychological, or emotional damage that you suffered because of your car accident. Examples of non-economic losses include: As you can see, there is no easy way to place a dollar figure on these losses. However, you should claim compensation for noneconomic losses because they are part of the losses you endured as a result of your car accident.  How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering from a Car Accident? Calculating pain and suffering from a car accident is not easy. There is no one right way to figure out how much your suffering is worth. For example, you might have reached a medical end result after treatment, but you still have a sore back. If your sore back makes doing chores around the house harder and sleeping more difficult, then you should receive compensation. It’s not your fault your back hurts. But how do you put a number on pain and suffering? One way to calculate pain and suffering damages is to multiply your economic losses by a number between one and five—with the average claim using a multiplier of three. Thus, if you have $20,000 in economic losses and multiply that number by three, then your pain and suffering damage claim would be $60,000. In some instances, a multiplier of three would not be sufficient because your pain and suffering is more severe. In that case, multiplying your economic losses by five might give you a fair result. Another method commonly used to calculate pain and suffering is the daily rate theory. Under this theory, you claim pain and suffering damages for every day you experience pain from your accident. Coming up with a justifiable number is not easy in this situation. Therefore, using your daily wage or salary can be a good guide. For instance, if you make $200 per day at work. You would multiply $200 for every day you endured pain from your accident.  Ohio Law Caps Pain and Suffering Damages in Some Situations Section 2315.18 caps noneconomic damages at $250,000 or three times the compensatory damages, whichever is greater. The law also says that the noneconomic damages cannot exceed $350,000 per claimant or $500,000 per occurrence. There is an exception to this rule.  There is no cap on damages if you suffered: These limitations only apply to non-fatal car accidents. Other limitations may apply to claims filed against the government and wrongful death suits. Maximize Your Pain and Suffering Award with Help From Successful Car Accident Lawyers The Ohio car accident lawyers with Gounaris Abboud, LPA, have won millions of dollars for their injury clients. They have a track record of success because they dedicate all of their resources and skill toward maximizing your damage award. Their numerous five-star awards and excellent reviews reflect their dedication to their clients. Call Gounaris Abboud today at 937-222-1515 for a free consultation.  

When you think of reckless driving, you may imagine teens drag racing late at night on local streets. But this type of incident does not singularly represent reckless driving.  Ohio laws broadly define reckless driving, and many responsible citizens find themselves needing legal representation for a charge of reckless driving in Ohio. All drivers need to understand the law surrounding reckless driving. Ohio courts take the charges seriously, and you must as well. What Is Reckless Driving in Ohio? Some specific and essential elements create reckless driving. These are: Operating a vehicle; Willfully and wantonly; and While disregarding the safety of people or property For a conviction, the State must prove all three of these elements. First, they must prove you were driving a motorized vehicle. Next, they have to prove that you purposely drove (in a public or private area) in a reckless way. Finally, they will need to demonstrate that you did or could have injured someone or something by your actions. Make a note of this crucial additional fact: Whether your driving actually injures a person or property is not relevant to this charge. Can You Give Me an Example of Reckless Operation in Ohio? Let’s make a comparison of situations. Say you are driving and have a medical seizure. Your car veers off the road. That would not be reckless driving. Ohio law would not permit criminal charges because you were not intentionally reckless or wanton. On the other hand, if you are late for work, traveling 60 mph in a 25 mph zone, and go past a stop sign without stopping, that could be considered reckless driving in Ohio. You knew you were driving too fast, and you understand that speeding is dangerous. On top of that, no doubt running the stop sign could have led to a severe accident and injury. What Is the Difference Between Reckless Driving in Ohio and Reckless Operation in Ohio? In Ohio, a reckless operation is a term interchangeable with Ohio reckless driving—different terminology but the same offense. You can find the specific statute in the Ohio Criminal Code.  What Should I Do If the Police Charge Me with Violating Ohio Reckless Operation Laws? Once the State charges you with reckless operation, Ohio courts get involved. You have one singular and crucial step to take: Get a lawyer.  If convicted of this charge, you may face myriad outcomes. Depending on whether it is your first offense, and based on the judge’s discretion, if convicted your sentence may include: A suspended driver license, Probation, Time in jail, and Hundreds of dollars in fines. Some people minimize their charges of reckless driving. Ohio courts do not. You should have a lawyer safeguard your rights, fight to get your charges dismissed or reduced and advocate for you in court if it comes to that.  Gounaris Abboud, LPA: The Dedicated Lawyers You Deserve With offices throughout Ohio, Gounaris Abboud, LPA, has a long history of providing exceptional legal defense services. We pride ourselves on offering one-on-one attention to every single client. You can reach us by calling 937-222-1515 or by visiting our website. At Gounaris Abboud, LPA, we are available for a free case analysis. Please reach out to us for your legal needs.

When you experience an auto accident, it brings your routine to a halt. Instead of making your way to work or school, you may need to seek medical attention and figure out alternative transportation. Then come the bills. Hospital costs and auto repairs add up to alarming dollar amounts. When the bills start piling up, you may decide to take a serious look at your auto insurance. What will it pay? What should it pay? One question you may ask when trying to evaluate your auto insurance involves a concept known as fault. Is Ohio a no-fault state for auto insurance? If so, how does this affect your claim? Keep reading for more information on Ohio auto insurance laws. IS OHIO A NO FAULT STATE FAQ What Does No-Fault Mean? A no-fault state requires your auto insurance to pay your medical expenses from an accident, even if the accident was not your fault. No-fault auto insurance usually pays medical bills up to a certain policy limit. If medical expenses exceed that limit, the policyholder may sue the driver who caused the accident.  So is Ohio a no-fault state for auto insurance? No, Ohio rejects this standard of compensation. So if you live in Ohio, no-fault state auto insurance rules do not apply. Ohio requires fault-based auto insurance claims. This means that you recover medical expenses and car repairs from the person who caused the accident.  IS OHIO A NO FAULT STATE FAQ How Does This Rule Affect Me?  Instead of filing a claim with your auto insurance, you file a claim with the at-fault party’s auto insurance. If the person who caused the accident is uninsured, then it’s up to you to pay your own accident expenses. Some drivers purchase an additional policy to cover accidents caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.  The at-fault party’s insurance company may try to avoid paying for all your expenses from the accident. After all, the insurance company is trying to maximize its profits, and it doesn’t help them to pay large claims. If you feel intimidated trying to negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, an experienced car accident attorney can help. Insurance companies can intimidate injured claimants, but an experienced car accident attorney knows how to negotiate with an insurance company for a maximum settlement.  IS OHIO A NO FAULT STATE FAQ What Is Comparative Negligence?  When more than one person is at fault for an accident, each individual’s responsibility to pay is based on the principle of comparative negligence. Comparative negligence allows you to recover damages from another driver based on their percentage of fault. For instance, imagine that you sustained $100,000 worth of damages (such as medical bills and auto repairs) in an accident. If the other driver was 60% responsible for the accident and you were 40% responsible, you would be able to recover $60,000 from that driver.  In Ohio, you cannot recover anything from the other driver if you are more than 50% responsible for the accident.  IS OHIO A NO FAULT STATE FAQ How Can an Accident Attorney Help?  If you’ve experienced an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you need skilled legal representation to get the money you’re owed. An experienced car accident attorney can evaluate your case and advise you of your best legal options. The attorney will also investigate the details of the car accident, interview witnesses, and request compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance.  Most insurance companies want to settle, so a car accident attorney will press for the maximum settlement amount. However, if an insurance company refuses to cooperate with settlement negotiations, your attorney should be prepared to proceed to a jury trial. If you have been injured in an Ohio car accident, call the experienced attorneys at Gounaris Abboud, LPA, at 937-222-1515, or contact us online for a free consultation. We have nearly five decades of combined legal experience, and we know how to negotiate with insurance companies to get the full settlement you deserve.

We hear about car accidents all the time, but no one thinks they’ll be the victim of one.  According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 817 deaths caused by car accidents in 2018. Unfortunately, thousands more are seriously injured in Ohio car crashes.  If you have been the victim of a car crash in Ohio, one of the first questions you may have is how to hold the at-fault driver accountable and get the compensation you deserve. You may also be wondering: do I need to hire a car accident lawyer to get compensation?  We want to explain how to get money from a car accident without a lawyer and to give you more information about how an Ohio car accident attorney can help you recover more than if you pursued a claim by yourself. [Watch the Video] Filing a Car Accident Claim and Providing Evidence After being involved in a car crash in Ohio, you need to file a car insurance claim. If you want to submit your claim without legal representation, make sure you do the following: Report the accident to your own insurance company within a specific period after the accident to be eligible for compensation. Only provide facts to the insurance company.  Do not give them information about your opinion or any other subjective details. If you do, the insurance company could use your statements against you. Provide evidence of the other driver’s fault. This includes taking pictures at the scene of the crash, gathering witness statements, and getting a copy of your Ohio car accident report. If you do not get full compensation through an insurance claim, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.  Hiring an Ohio Car Accident Lawyer Can Increase Your Compensation While it may seem appealing to handle your claim on your own, it is essential to know that working with a Dayton lawyer can improve your chances of getting compensation and can increase the amount of compensation that you get.  Hiring an Ohio personal injury attorney can almost double your chances of getting compensation and may be able to increase your payout by thousands of dollars. A car accident lawyer can use his or her experience to help with the following: Negotiating with the insurance company to get a reasonable settlement; Handling conversations with the insurance adjuster; Framing evidence to support your case, and working with accident reconstruction experts to prove that the other driver is responsible; Negotiating with the at-fault driver’s lawyer to get a reasonable settlement; and Advocating for your right to compensation if your case goes to trial. Get Help from a Dayton Car Crash Lawyer While you do have options to seek compensation on your own, a Dayton, Ohio car accident lawyer will improve your chances of getting the money you deserve. Contact Gounaris Abboud for more information.