Auto Accidents Attorney
Auto accidents happen every day, and many are fatal or cause serious injury to those involved. In fact, according to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 32,719 people lost their lives in auto accidents in the U.S. in 2013 alone, and 989 of those deaths occurred in Ohio. (http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview) While great strides have been made to improve the safety of the cars we drive, accidents, severe injuries, and fatalities do still happen.
Not all auto accidents cause death, but many cause serious health problems that may include back and spinal injuries, brain injuries, paralysis, burn injuries, facial injuries, disfigurement, and scarring. These issues can severely impact a person's life, and sometimes leave them permanently disabled and unable to work. In addition to the physical problems that may arise following an auto accident, financial problems often result. While a person is recovering from the accident or in rehabilitation, they often miss work, and the sudden lack of income can lead to mounting bills, and the addition of medical bills can quickly become insurmountable. While these mounting medical bills are sometimes covered by health insurance, but it can take some time for the insurance companies to evaluate the claims. This wait can leave the accident victim in a dire financial position.
While it would be reasonable to assume the auto insurance company of the at-fault driver would pay the victim in of auto accident. In reality, the insurance companies are for-profit companies that turn a profit from the practice of collecting premiums while simultaneously not paying out for claims or paying less than a fair amount for those claims. These insurance companies have little incentive to pay a fair settlement to an accident victim
Without an attorney experienced in dealing with insurance companies on auto accident and personal injury claims, the average person is at an enormous disadvantage. Our own H. Gilson Blair once worked as an in-house counsel for a major auto insurer and that experience allows him to anticipate problems with your case before they happen. Gil understands personal injury cases from both sides, and this allows him to excel in getting his clients a fair settlement for their claims. At The Law Office of H. Gilson Blair LTD, we feel it's important for every accident victim to have legal representation. We're happy to work with you to assist in getting your medical claims covered by your health insurance company, as well as adequate compensation from the at-fault car insurance company. Our focus on your legal case allows you to concentrate on the things that matter most, like getting healthy.
I've been in an auto accident. What do I do?
1. Contact us!
We will investigate all aspects of the accident using information from any and all possible sources to get to the truth. Our complete understanding of the event and resulting injuries and damage is critical to assisting you with your case.
2. Second, gather all of the documents pertaining to your medical insurance.
Your health insurance is the first place we'll go to get your medical bills paid. If you do not have active health insurance, we will help you get the medical care you need. It's incredibly important to receive the medical care you need immediately following the accident to prevent more problems down the road.
3.Third, refer all communication with the auto insurance claim adjusters to us.
Most often, the at-fault insurance company will ask you to sign a pile of documents following the accident. Don't sign any of them without speaking to us first. As a matter of fact, it's in your best interest to allow us to be the intermediary between you and the insurance company.
Fourth, do not accept the property valuation the insurance company offers.
The insurance companies do not use standard price guides like Kelley Blue Book or N.A.D.A. They created their own valuation guides in order to reduce the amount of claims paid.
Recovery from an accident can be very trying physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. Let The Law Office of H. Gilson Blair LTD step you through the process and work to get you a fair judgement for your case.