Personal injury claims are complicated. If you’re hurt in a multi-car pile-up on the Ohio Turnpike, there may be multiple parties who are liable for what happened. If you suffered a spinal injury after a bad fall downtown, you may be facing a lifetime of medical treatment and complete derailment of your career.
With so much at stake, you need personal injury lawyers here in Cleveland who’ve been there before and know how to put in the hard work to help people in need.
At Tittle & Perlmuter, we are proud to be Northeast Ohio’s leading firm for accident victims and their families. To request a free consultation, contact our law firm today.
Key Elements of a Personal Injury Claim
Personal injury refers to any injury that affects someone’s physical well-being and finances. For personal injury cases to be successful, these four elements must be present.
- Duty of Care: This means that the at-fault party had a responsibility to act reasonably. This may be as simple as following traffic laws or keeping a dog on a leash.
- Breach of Duty: This means that the at-fault party failed in their responsibility. This may involve driving over the speed limit or letting a dangerous dog roam free.
- Causation: This means that the breach of duty directly led to someone’s injury.
- Damages: This means that the injury resulted in a measurable loss, like medical bills, vehicle repairs, or loss of income.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Ohio?
In Ohio, you typically have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.10). Once that two-year statute of limitations has expired, you will no longer be able to take legal action.
A two-year deadline sounds like a long time, but there are potential exceptions in which action must be taken sooner. It’s best to speak with the Cleveland personal injury attorneys here at Tittle & Perlmuter as soon as possible. We can determine if you have a viable claim and start seeking compensation.
Compensation in Personal Injury Cases
Accident victims have the right to seek compensation for economic losses and non-economic damages. Our Cleveland personal injury lawyers will fight tirelessly to help victims secure maximum financial compensation. You may be entitled to recover monetary damages for:
- Medical Expenses: This includes ambulance rides, hospitalization or stabilizing care, and visits with specialists.
- Future Medical Care: This includes estimated costs for ongoing health needs, such as physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy.
- Vehicle and Property Damage: This covers the repair or replacement of a vehicle, electronic devices, and other belongings during an accident.
- Lost Wages: This covers loss of income while recovering from your injuries as well as loss of future earning potential due to a long-term or permanent disability.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers mental anguish, chronic pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to your injuries.
- Reduced Quality of Life: This covers the loss of enjoyment in hobbies or daily activities because of the injuries you sustained.
Modified Comparative Negligence: Partial Liability Can Affect Compensation
Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence system, which means you can still recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2315.33). However, your compensation will be reduced by your share of liability.
For example, say that you are awarded $100,000 after a slip and fall accident at a Heinen’s Grocery Store. However, it’s determined that you were 25% at fault for what happened. You would still receive $75,000 in compensation.
Insurance companies will try to force blame onto you to reduce payouts and offer lowball settlements. The attorneys at Tittle & Perlmuter can call out these tactics and negotiate a settlement that accurately accounts for the facts.
Tittle & Perlmuter Handles All Personal Injury Claims in Cleveland
The lawyers at Tittle & Perlmuter are prepared to help the people of Cleveland in all kinds of personal injury cases.
Car Accidents
After a car wreck, you may have a lot of questions about how to deal with the insurance claims process. Whether you were in a crash on Kinsman Road or near the I-90/I-77 interchange, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. As strong advocates for underdogs, we know how to hold insurance companies accountable when they try to take advantage of hard-working people.
Motorcycle Collisions
Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable to serious injuries. Whether the accident happens on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway or a remote highway around Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a motorcycle crash can cause devastating harm with lifelong consequences. Tittle & Perlmuter fight aggressively to protect the rights of injured motorcyclists all over Cleveland. If you were involved in a motorcycle wreck, our lawyers can advocate for you to receive maximum compensation.
Semi-Truck Accidents
A commercial truck accident can cause devastating, even life-altering trauma. It does not matter if you were in a multi-vehicle wreck on I-480 or got run off the road by an 18-wheeler outside Cleveland. Negligent trucking companies and their commercial insurance carriers must be held accountable for paying claims.
Bus Accidents
Many people rely on local RTA buses as part of their daily commute. Similarly, many people take on Greyhound and Barons buses from Brook Park to travel to other parts of Ohio or out of state. When bus accidents happen, Tittle & Perlmuter can hold negligent drivers and bus companies accountable.
Pedestrian Accidents
Accidents involving pedestrians can result in severe injuries. Whether the accident happens during a night out in Ohio City or in a school zone in Solon, our personal injury lawyers are here to hold reckless drivers accountable and seek maximum compensation for you.
Bicycle Accidents
Cleveland’s becoming more bike-friendly, yet there’s still a lot of work to be done. When cyclists get doored or are blindsided by a distracted driver, the injuries can be severe. Our lawyers can hold reckless and inattentive drivers accountable when their actions hurt cyclists.
Dog Bites
When dogs attack people in public parks or on private property, the dog’s owner could be held liable for injuries. We can help people who have been mauled or attacked by dogs, noting Cleveland’s leash laws and local laws regarding dangerous dog registration.
Injuries Involving Children
When children are injured in serious accidents, their parents and guardians can seek compensation to address serious injuries. In addition to physical trauma, the team at Tittle & Perlmuter can consider the emotional impact of a traumatic event on a child’s growth and development.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice cases are complicated, particularly when a misdiagnosis or a surgical error may not be discovered for years. The attorneys at our Cleveland law firm have the knowledge, training, and experience to take on cases that involve negligence by doctors, surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists.
Nursing Home Abuse
Moving a vulnerable loved one into an assisted-care facility is a hard choice. You never expect that they will become the victim of abuse or neglect. Our nursing home abuse attorneys are compassionate and results-focused advocates for Cleveland seniors and their loved ones.
Product Liability Claims
Large corporations must be held accountable for harm caused by dangerous and defective products. They should never be allowed to put profits before people. We always fight for the little guy at Tittle & Perlmuter. We’re ready to put multi-million and billion-dollar goliaths in their place.
Premises Liability Claims
Property owners owe a duty of care to their guests and customers. When people trip over an extension cord at Tower City Center or suffer a major fall at one of the hotels downtown, our attorneys can help seek maximum compensation.
Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries often lead to lasting changes in a person’s quality of life and their ability to live independently. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or any kind of harm that’s led to a permanent or long-term disability, you need our personal injury lawyers on your side.
Wrongful Death
The loss of a loved one is a terrible tragedy. If you’ve lost a family member, you have our deepest condolences. You may have the right to bring a civil wrongful death claim against the person believed to be at fault for the fatal accident.
Why Choose Tittle & Perlmuter for Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
Tittle & Perlmuter started from a desire to help people, especially the underdog. With our law firm on your side, you have access to Cleveland-based personal injury lawyers who offer:
- Deep Knowledge and Experience: With decades of experience, the team at Tittle & Perlmuter has handled a wide range of personal cases. We leverage our extensive knowledge to craft strategies that help ensure our clients get strong results.
- Personalized Representation: Big national law firms take a one-size-fits-all approach. You need locals here in Cleveland who know the roads, the businesses, the courts, and the needs of the community. You people who care about you, your family, and this city.
- A Commitment to Results: Our personal injury lawyers focus on delivering results that meet or exceed your expectations. We encourage you to browse our successful case results. It’s our mission to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Cleveland Personal Injury Attorneys Today
Don’t delay. If you or a family member has been seriously hurt in an accident, the team at Tittle & Perlmuter wants to hear from you. We’ll put in the time and the hard work so you can focus on recovery. To set up a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers in Cleveland, contact our Northeast Ohio law firm today.
