Personal Injury: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if I have a potential personal injury case?

A: You must be able to prove that your injury (physical or emotional) is the fault of another person.

Q: How do I know if I need a lawyer?

A: If you feel you have a potential personal injury lawsuit, then you need a lawyer! A lawyer can help determine whether or not there is potential for a case.

Q: Why can't I just deal directly with the insurance company, without the help of an attorney?

A: Simply put, this is not the best option to choose. First of all, the other party involved may not even be insured, so a lawsuit may be the only way. If they are insured, many people feel that they can get more money by dealing with an insurance company because they do not have to pay anything to the lawyer, but this isn't so. Personal injury lawyers have knowledge in this field and the laws and know how to find ways to get you the largest amount of money you can possibly get for your case. In the end, you wind up recovering more by getting help from a lawyer. In some cases, an insurance company will take you to trial if they know you are on your own, because they realize how difficult it will be for you to recover damages this way, without an attorney on your side.

Q: What will I need to do if my case is accepted?

A: Gathering information and keeping us informed on things - such as your medical treatment - and other details regarding the incident and your injury is crucial.

Q: What is a contingency fee?

A: This is usually the fee that is charged by most personal injury lawyers when taking on a case. It is the payment to the lawyer taking on your case which is only made if your case settles. It is a portion - usually one third - of the settlement amount.

Q: What is the process of a personal injury lawsuit?

A: Although this can differ depending on the case, generally the process is this: first, negotiation with the insurance company occurs. Next, a lawsuit is filed. Paper work is exchanged, and then next are the depositions. The injured person may then have to be examined by a medical professional. The last step that would occur if necessary would be a trial. At any point during this process, however, the lawsuit may settle.

Q: How long will a personal injury lawsuit take to settle?

A: This is difficult to answer and can take anywhere from a couple months to a couple years to settle. Sometimes, it depends on how long medical care is required. Our advice is to be patient because it will usually pay off in the end.

Q: How much money is my case worth?

A: This is another question that is difficult to answer and depends on your exact case. Even when we know the details of your case, however, it can still be somewhat difficult to determine what the settlement amount may be. A lot of factors are taken into consideration such as medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Q: Will I have to go to court?

A: Most of the time, personal injury cases are settled out of court and won't go to trial. However, you will most likely be required to go to court to testify if your case does, in fact, go to trial.

Q: How long do I have to act on my personal injury case?

A: Every state has a statute of limitations which is a time limit that limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. In Ohio, the statute of limitations is 2 years for most cases. However, there are some instances where the statute of limitations is 1 year. It is better to act as soon as possible in getting your case going.

Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, G. Ernie Ramos, Attorney at Law, represents clients in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits throughout Ohio, in Hamilton, Clermont, Warren, Butler, and Brown Counties including Batavia, Lebanon, Hamilton, Loveland, Middletown, Mason, Fairfield, and Georgetown..