Ohio Lawyers FAQ - Business, Personal Injury, Pharmaceutical

Ohio Personal Injury FAQ

Ohio Business Litigation FAQ

Ohio Pharmaceutical & Medical Device FAQ

Ohio Personal Injury FAQ

How are my medical bills going to be paid? 

Health Insurance if you have it.  Medical Payments Coverage on Automobile Policy.  Medicaid.  Medicare.  Letter of Protection.  Hospital payment plans or forgiveness policies.

How am I going to take care of my family and pay our household expenses? 

We can help you by recovering money from the people responsible for your damages.  But that takes time.  In the meantime, you will need to rely on savings, help from family members, loans, or public assistance.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not all injured victims actually need a lawyer.  By discussing your situation with you, we can help you decide whether a lawyer can provide you with real value.  We will be able to figure it out when we have more information.  If we believe you can work things out on your own, we will tell you.

Can I afford a lawyer?

Yes.  You pay no fee unless you recover compensation for you.

What are your fees? 

Our fees are a percentage of the money we eventually obtain for you.   

How do you charge? 

We work on a contingent fee basis.  You do not owe us a fee unless and until we get compensation for you.  The contingent fee is often called "the key to the courthouse" for average people who have claims against big insurance companies or corporations.

What are my legal rights? 

This will depend on many factors, and we are happy to discuss them with you.  Generally, if someone else causes an injury or death, you have a right to bring a claim for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.  You may have other rights, depending upon your circumstances.  If you consult us, we will explore your situation and explain all of your rights in detail, and in plain English.

Where do I start?

That depends on your circumstances.  But the first step is to consult an experienced attorney for advice.

How much is my case worth?  

That depends on many factors, and we probably will not be able to tell you immediately.  It is something we need to discuss.

How long will my case take? 

We cannot tell you that until we know more facts.  Even then, there are so many unpredictable factors that it is always difficult to predict a timeline.  We always work as hard as we can to make your case move as fast as possible.  We never let up.

Do I have to go to court? 

Most personal injury and death cases are resolved before they go to court.  A few must go to court in order to obtain a just result.  We are prepared to take your case to court and conduct a trial if necessary.  

What is the process? 

Each case is different.  If you consult with us, we will explain the like process that your case will follow.

Do I have to talk to the insurance companies? 

Yes and no.  You may be required to talk to your own insurance company, and there are reasons you may want to do so.  There are ways your own insurance company can help you.  You are not required to talk to the insurance company for the at fault party, and we generally recommend against that.  If we agree to represent you, we will deal with the insurance companies.

How am I going to fix my car?

Sometimes the insurance company for the at-fault party will agree to fix or replace your car.  If they do not agree, or if they do not treat you fairly, then your own insurance company will fix your car, less your "deductible."  The deductible can eventually be recovered from the at-fault party. 

Can I get a rental car? 

It depends.  Sometimes the insurance company for the at-fault party will provide a rental car.  If they won't, or if they are difficult to work with, check with your own insurance company.  If you have purchased rental car coverage, they will probably treat you better than the other driver's insurance company on the rental car.

What is going to happen to the person that hit me? 

He is probably not going to jail unless there were extraordinary circumstances.  These would include drunk driving, driving without a license, or extreme recklessness.

In an auto or truck accident, what happens if the other driver was not cited? 

Although this is a "red flag", it really has no legal effect on your civil claim against the at-fault party.  However, it is a good reason to consult a lawyer.  If you are convinced the other driver was at fault, consult a lawyer even if the other driver was not cited.

How soon after the accident do I need to hire a lawyer?

This is a very important question.  If you need a lawyer, you should hire one as soon as possible.  The fee is going to be the same regardless of whether you hire a lawyer early or late in the process, and if you hire a lawyer early, there are many, many more things that the lawyer can do to help you and protect your rights.  Talking to a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident is one of the MOST IMPORTANT STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

Should I sign medical authorizations from my own insurance company?

Generally, you should not do this before consulting a lawyer.  You may have an obligation to do so, but every case is different, and you should consult a lawyer first.

Should I submit my medical bills to my own health insurance company? 

The answer is almost always yes.  However, it is best to consult with a lawyer if possible.

Should I call one of those lawyers I see advertising on T.V.? 

That is a personal decision.  You should consult a lawyer based upon qualifications, experience, reputation and results.  You should hire a lawyer that you are comfortable with and whom you can believe in.

Should I call the lawyer who helped me with my real estate closing, my will, my divorce, my bankruptcy, etc. or do I need a personal injury specialist? 

If you have a serious injury or death claim, you are almost always better off hiring a lawyer who handles only those types of cases.  A lawyer who is skilled in one area is not necessarily skilled in another.  For example, we would not offer to handle your real estate closing, your divorce, or your relative's drunken driving case.  We focus on what we do best.   

How can I trust you to return my calls and not treat me like "just another case?" 

We have no clients who are "just another case."  We do not accept every case.  We are selective.  If we take your case, you are important to us, and our goal will be to "exceed your expectations."  Your case will receive a high level of attention.  We will return your calls or emails the same day, or the very next day if we receive them after hours.

Ohio Business Litigation FAQ

How long does it take to get to trial? 

Typically 1.5 to 2 years

How much are your fees? 

Fees depend on the circumstances.  We offer contingent fee agreements, blended fee agreements and straight hourly rate arrangements, depending on the nature of the case and claims involved.

Can you make the other side pay my legal fees if we win?           

This depends. In most cases we cannot, but there are exceptions.

Ohio Pharmaceutical and Medical Device FAQ

Will you sue doctors or hospitals?

You do not have to sue your doctors or the hospital you used if you do not want to.

Will my case be put into a class action? 

No. Your case will be handled by one attorney from our office as an individual case.

How long will my case take to resolve?  

All litigation is different, but most pharmaceutical and medical device litigation lasts 2-5 years.

Will you handle my case individually? 

Yes.  We are not in the business of collecting clients and referring them elsewhere.  We work with lawyers around the country, but we maintain control and responsibility for our clients, and we go to trial with their cases.