If you’ve been hurt in an accident and someone else is to blame, you should immediately seek medical treatment. But once the immediate crisis has passed, you’ll want to hire a Cleveland personal injury lawyer to help determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit against the responsible party. That’s because Ohio personal injury law allows victims to recover compensation from the person, company or government agency that’s responsible for the accident or injuries.
How Much Do Cleveland Personal Injury Lawyers Cost?
If you’re saddled with bills as a result of your accident, you may be wondering whether you can afford to hire a lawyer. The good news is that Cleveland personal injury attorneys usually charge victims (known as plaintiffs) a contingency fee. When you hire a lawyer on contingency, the attorney only gets paid if you receive money from the party responsible for your accident (known as the defendant). If you win money, you’ll owe a percentage of that compensation to your lawyer. If your case is unsuccessful, then you’ll owe your lawyer nothing.
Types of Ohio Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury law is a broad area of civil law that covers all types of injuries to a person’s body and mind. This includes:
- Asbestos-related diseases
- Birth injuries
- Catastrophic accidents, such as plane crashes and railroad accidents
- Car crashes and other types of motor vehicle accidents
- Dog and other types of animal bites
- Injuries caused by defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Mesothelioma
- Slip and fall accidents
- Work-related injures
Determining Venue & Jurisdiction in Your Ohio Personal Injury Lawsuit
In Ohio, civil lawsuits involving accidents and injuries may be filed in one of three courts. Your Ohio personal injury lawyer will determine which court is the best venue in which to file your case.
If you’re seeking no more than $3,000 in damages, or compensation, your case can be filed in the Small Claims Court. Ohio Municipal and County Courts hear lawsuits involving no more than $15,000 in damages. And the Ohio Court of Common Pleas is responsible for hearing accident-related lawsuits involving damages of more than $15,000.
Once your Ohio personal injury attorney has determined which court has jurisdiction over your lawsuit, he or she also needs to determine the venue, or appropriate location in which to file your case. Under Ohio law, the case must be filed in the court located where the accident occurred or where the defendant resides (if the defendant is an individual) or is located (if the defendant is a business).
