What is a Personal Injury?

A car crash on I-90 with a drunk driver leaves you with a fractured hip.

A defective toy gives your toddler third-degree burns.

A doctor improperly stitches your loved one’s surgical wound, resulting in a fatal infection.

What do these three events have in common? They are a few of the most common types of personal injuries that warrant compensation for damages.

What is a personal injury?

A personal injury is a broad term that refers to any type of injury that stems from an accident. When a person suffers a personal injury, it is often due to the negligence of another party. When this is the case, the injured party may file a personal injury claim to recover damages related to the accident and injury.

It is important to understand that not all personal injuries will warrant a claim, and not all claims will lead to damages. Every personal injury claim is different, and the following factors will determine whether or not you may be able to seek compensation:

• Duty of care. A personal injury claim begins with a party that owes a duty of care to the victim.
• Negligence. After filing a personal injury claim, it must be proven that negligence of the at-fault party resulted in the injury to the victim.
• Time. According to Ohio Code § 2305.10(A) , an injured party must file a claim within the time allotted by the state, which is typically two years after
• the accident took place. However, there are exceptions to this rule – two examples include cases involving medical malpractice and product liability. There are also shorter time limitations when the act causing the injury is considered intentional, such as an assault or defamation. Filing a personal injury claim is what allows an injured party or his or her family members to seek justice and compensation (also referred to as damages).
• Damages. Damages are the financial, physical and emotional losses a victim incurs as a result of the personal injury, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Types of Personal Injury

At Ryan, LLP, we concentrate in the following types of personal injury claims stemming from:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents

Whether the accident involved a car, bus, truck or motorcycle, a major car crash may result in serious bone, muscle and organ damage.

• Medical Malpractice

Any person or entity charged with caring for your health may be liable for malpractice if you suffer personal injury that could have been avoided with proper, reasonable care.

• Wrongful Death

When an injury results in the death of a loved one, the personal injury claim becomes a wrongful death claim, which may lead to damages for the decedent’s estate as well as the decedent’s survivors; this can be a more complex claim.

Our law firm focuses specifically on these types of personal injury cases to ensure we can provide our clients with the best representation possible. For more than 40 years, our lawyers have gone against the top insurance companies at the negotiation table and in court, proving that we are not afraid to take a personal injury or wrongful death claim to trial.

Why do you need a personal injury attorney?

When you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, the outcome can be life-altering. Accident victims may suffer permanent injuries that prevent them from returning to their normal life. Spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and limb amputations, for example, require lifelong care and special equipment.

Insurance companies may not take into account the long-term damages an injured party and his or her family may suffer. The personal injury attorneys at Ryan, LLP focus on how the accident affects you and your family’s future, both financially and emotionally.

When you choose Ryan, LLP to assist with your personal injury claim, you’re choosing a group of legal professionals who have the knowledge and resources to go up against major companies, insurers and government entities. For peace of mind and relief from dealing with insurance claims and lawsuits on your own, contact our law firm today for a free consultation: (877) 864-9495.