AuthorCharles V. Contrada

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Easy Ways to Obtain Info after Car Accident

A majority of people are aware that after being involved in a car accident, there are different steps to take to ensure that you are obtaining all the information that is necessary for insurance purposes. In some cases, the car accident may result in serious damages or injuries that would later result in a car accident claim. In these instances, obtaining certain information is even more helpful to your personal injury claim.

Obtaining Information at the Scene of an Accident

There are a lot of things going on at the scene of an accident which can make it difficult to obtain information. There is a strong chance that you are on the side of a busy road waiting for the police to arrive, or the weather could be inclement making it difficult to speak with the other driver without putting your or them at risk.

Contrada & Associates has handled thousands of car accident cases, helping individuals receive settlements for the injuries they’ve sustained and the pain and suffering they’ve endured. Through this experience, we believe that obtaining certain pieces of information after the accident will assist in your personal injury case. If you are involved in a car accident, get the below information from the other driver to share with your car accident lawyer:

  • Name of other driver
  • Address and phone number
  • Car insurance information

While obtaining this information can assist in the personal injury claim process, do not put yourself in danger to get it (i.e. if you’re on a busy highway with no shoulder room to communicate with the other driver, do not risk being struck by an oncoming vehicle). Also, the other driver may be reluctant to share this information with you. The advice of our car accident lawyers is that if you can get the information – great; if you can’t get the information – the lawyers at Contrada & Associates will know what steps to take.

How to get the information Fast

As we explained earlier, the scene of a car accident is stressful and there are a lot of things going on. Writing down a person’s contact information on a scrap piece of paper (if you can find one in your car) may seem like it takes forever, or you could be too shaken up to write legibly. An easy to way to obtain the contact information in its entirety after an accident is to pull your phone out and take a picture. Ask the individual if they have a business card that you can take a picture of, in addition to taking a photo of their car insurance information. We also recommend taking a photo of the other driver’s license plate.

If you and the other driver decides to move your vehicles before the police arrive, take several photos of where the cars are at first before moving.

If there is a witness on the scene of the accident who can help you to prove that you did not cause the accident and that the other driver was at-fault, we highly recommend getting their information as well. Oftentimes witnesses may not stay at the scene very long as they likely have somewhere else to be, making it crucial to obtain their name and phone number in the easiest way possible, which could be taking a picture of their card.

Contacting a Car accident Lawyer

If you have suffered injuries in your car accident, seek medical attention. A reminder from our car accident lawyers is that sometimes car accident victims mistake their injuries for temporary discomfort and wait one to two weeks before visiting their doctor. If you have any pain following your accident, seek medical attention and then contact a car accident lawyer.

If you would like to speak to one of the car accident lawyers at Contrada & Associates about your accident, call 419.841.4400. You will have the opportunity to review the accident with a lawyer and receive legal guidance as to the next steps to take.

24 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

Sharing Information with Your Personal Injury Lawyer

After being involved in a car accident, there are many confusing and overwhelming things that must be dealt with, including the legal side of your accident (property damages, injuries, etc.).

Some people don’t believe that there should be compensation for something that is considered to be an accident. However, the injury is defined as an “injury that was caused by the fault of another.”

The personal injury lawyers at Contrada & Associates have handled thousands of car accident cases. The clients that we have represented have sustained a variety of injuries from car accidents. Through our experience handling such cases, we would like to share the list of things that every car accident victim should share with their lawyer.

Communicating with your Personal Injury Lawyer

Once you contact a personal injury lawyer following your car accident, be sure to bring the following information with you.

  • Copy of the Police Accident Report, or ask the lawyer if they’re able to retrieve
  • Photos taken at the scene of the accident
  • Contact information (phone number, name, business car, etc.) of others involved/present at the scene (driver, witness, injured passenger, etc.), if available.
  • List of medical professionals/doctors visited following the accident, Follow-Up Care Sheet from the hospital
  • Photos of injuries following the accident
  • Medical bills received following accident
  • Name of claim adjuster, claim number, phone number

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been involved in a car accident, contacting a personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later will make the legal process much easier. A personal injury lawyer with experience handling car accident cases similar to yours can help guide you through the legal process.

To speak to a personal injury lawyer about your car accident, call Contrada & Associates at 419.841.4400. When calling our office, you are able to speak directly with a lawyer about your car accident and the legal options that you have. You will also enjoy personal attention and face-to-face meetings with your lawyer throughout the entire legal process.

18 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

Car Accident Caused by Defective Vehicle

With the increased number of recalls that exist on vehicles today, it’s no surprise that there are vehicle accidents that are caused by defective vehicles. There are several results of accidents that are caused by defective vehicles, including injury accidents or even fatal car accidents.

Vehicle Defects

There are several types of common vehicle defects that have the potential to cause car accidents. The defects can be due to a variety of things, such as the manufacturing process or even the basic design of the vehicle or a specific car part. Below is a list of common defects that often result in vehicle accidents:

  • Improper vehicle structure
  • Defective safety equipment – seatbelts, airbags
  • Defective brake system
  • Improper wiring of vehicle
  • Defective fuel system and tanks
  • Defective tires

Our personal injury attorneys remind any victim of a defective product to NOT dispose of the product after the incident occurs. In order to pursue damages for injuries sustained due to a defective product, the individual must physically have the defective product. This means that if you are involved in an accident which was caused by a defective car part (airbag, seatbelt, brakes, etc.), do not get rid of your vehicle. Your car is your only proof. You must be able to prove that there is a defect. If you have questions about the product that caused your injury and what you should do, call Contrada & Associates at 419.841.4400.

Recalled Vehicle Accidents

Automakers have the responsibility to provide the public with safe vehicles to drive. If they fail to do so, motorists are able to seek compensation for any injuries that may result from this.

We advise any individual who has suffered an injury from a defective vehicle part, especially if it has been recalled, to contact a personal injury attorney. When injuries occur due to the negligence of a company, manufacturer, or distributor, a legal claim can be made.

Defective Vehicle: Personal Injury Attorney

To speak to a personal injury attorney from Contrada & Associates about the defective vehicle or car part that caused your injury, call 419.841.4400. Our personal injury attorneys have helped countless victims of defective products to pursue legal claims for their injuries.

16 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

What is the Statute of Limitations?

If an individual is injured in an accident, there is a defined amount of time that they have to pursue a legal claim. This period of time is referred to as the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations keeps legal claims within a reasonable amount of time from the incident. In Ohio, the statute of limitations for most personal injury is two years. This means that an individual has two years from when the cause of action accruise, or more simply put, the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. For example, if you have a car accident on August 20, 2014, you have to settle or file a claim by august 20, 2016.

Statute of Limitations: Medical Malpractice

You must be very careful regarding a medical malpractice claim because the Ohio legislature has reduced the statute of limitations to one year. In addition, it is sometimes complex to determine which date the time limit begins to run in a medical malpractice case. It could be measure from one of three dates:

  1. Date the malpractice occurs
  2. Date last treated with doctor who you believe committed malpractice
  3. When you discovered the malpractice or should have discovered

Statute of Limitations: Wrongful Death

If you believe your friend or loved one died because of negligence or fault of another, the estate of the deceased has two years from the date of the death to file a wrongful death lawsuit no matter how the death occurred.

Statute of Limitations for Minors

The statute of limitations differs somewhat for minors who are involved in injury accidents. If a child is injured in a personal injury accident, they have two years from their 18th birthday (20th birthday) to pursue a legal claim. It does not matter the age they were when the accident occurred, whether six years old or 17; they still have two years after their 18th birthday to file a personal injury claim.

Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury lawyer is able to file a claim immediately following the incident, allowing the process to begin and the resolution to ultimately come sooner. While the statute of limitations allows two years after an incident, our law office highly recommends contacting a personal injury soon after the incident occurs. Seeking legal guidance sooner rather than later will not only help to reduce the stress involved with the process, but also make the claims process easier for you.

To speak to a personal injury lawyer at Contrada & Associates, call 419.841.4400. You will have the opportunity learn more about your legal options and the steps to take toward filing a personal injury claim.

12 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

Faulty Medical Device Causes Injury

The term ‘medical device’ applies to countless types of medical equipment that individuals use during a treatment process. There are incidents in which patients experience injury from medical devices which constitutes a product liability claim.

What is a medical device?

A medical device is anything that is used by an individual to help throughout the treatment process. These devices are utilized for those suffering from a disease, illness, injury of some kind, or a disability. There have been various medical devices in the news as of late as they have caused injury to those who have used the device or had it implanted. Some of these examples include:

  • Faulty hip implants
  • Transvaginal mesh products
  • Defibrillators
  • Arterial stents

Medical Device Product Liability Claim

When a product liability claim is filed, it must result from one of three different causes:

  • Manufacture defects – the medical device is defective as a result of the manufacture process
  • Design defects – the design of the medical device caused it to become defective (can occur even when the device is manufactured properly)
  • Improper marketing – the marketing and promotional materials of the medical device was incorrect or misinforming

If you have suffered an injury due to a defective medical device, a personal injury lawyer will be able to determine which type of defect the medical device had. Hiring a personal injury lawyer is also critical to help you to prove that the medical device was the cause of the injury.

Product Liability Claim

There may be multiple defendants that can be named in your product liability claim depending on the defect of the medical device. A personal injury lawyer would include all those entities responsible for the defect. Examples of possible defendants in a medical device product liability claim include:

  • Medical device manufacturer
  • Medical laboratory
  • Medical sales representative
  • Doctor/Physician
  • Hospital/Treatment Facility
  • Medical device supplier

Product Liability Lawyer: Toledo, Ohio

If you or your loved one has suffered injury due to a defective medical device, it is very important to contact a personal injury lawyer with experience in product liability claims. The lawyers at Contrada & Associates have helped numerous victims of defective products. To learn what your options are and the legal steps that you should take, call 419.841.4400. You will be able to speak with a personal injury lawyer one-on-one and receive the legal guidance that you need.

9 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

What Should I do as a Witness of a Car Accident?

There is much confusion when it comes to what bystanders should do if first on the scene of a car accident. There have been stories in the past in which an individual has attempted to help the victim of a car accident and instead found themselves in legal trouble.

The Good Samaritan law protects any bystander who assists someone after they have been involved in a car accident without expecting any type of reward for doing so. Good Samaritan laws are meant to protect those who help others for no reason other than pure kindness.

If a rescuer is getting paid (EMS, paramedics), they are expected to do their job correctly. This means if they make a mistake while rescuing someone, they are not protected under Good Samaritan laws.

Car Accident Bystander/Witness

If you are a bystander at the scene of the accident, the car accident attorneys at Contrada & Associates recommend doing the following:

  • Report the accident – if you are the witness of a car accident, you should immediately call the police and report the accident. The sooner the police and first responders can arrive to assist, the better the outcome will be for those involved.
  • Help the victims – if the first responders have not arrived at the scene of the accident and the injured car accident victims are requesting your help, assist them if you feel comfortable doing so.
  • Identify yourself – give your name and phone number to the individual involved in the accident that you believe is not at fault.

Car Accident Attorney

The car accident attorneys at Contrada & Associates have helped countless car accident victims with their personal injury cases. We have represented individuals and their families after being involved in injury accidents, helping them to receive the compensation that is deserved for the injuries sustained in the accident.

If you would like to speak to a car accident attorney about an accident that you were involved in, call our office at 419.841.4400. You will be able to speak directly to an attorney and learn what your legal options are.

 

4 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

Defective Product: Product Liability Claim

Defective product announcements enter the news on a daily basis. The products that can be defective and cause injury to an individual include everything from a vehicle, to a small appliance, to a small medical device.

If you or a loved one suffers injury due to a defective product, you may have several questions about your legal options. Below the product liability lawyers at Contrada & Associates have highlighted three important things to know if you believe that you have a products liability claim.

Product Liability Claim

  1. There are three main reasons for product liability lawsuits – design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. When it comes to a design defect, there must be an obvious flaw in the design of the product while a manufacturing defect occurs during the actual manufacturing of the product. A marketing defect is defined as a failure to warn the consumer of the hazard that the product poses, or to provide incorrect safety instructions.
  2. Do not dispose of the defective product – you are unable to pursue a products liability claim without the defective product. Keep the product and any packaging or pieces that you may have and share them with your lawyer. Attorney Charlie Contrada was recently contacted by a potential client regarding a claim on the failure of airbags to deploy, but they already got rid of the vehicle. Because of this, the individual does not have a product liability claim.
  3. Take action before the statute of limitations is up – in Ohio, that statute of limitations is two years to pursue a defective products claim. Our products liability lawyers recommend seeking legal advice immediately following the incident in which the product causes injury. 

Product Liability Claim Lawyer

While our personal injury lawyers have highlighted three important things related to a defective product claim, there are several other details that an injured individual should know. We advise contacting a  product liability lawyer as soon as possible if an injury is caused by a defect, whether it is due to design, manufacturing, or marketing.

To speak to one of the lawyers at Contrada & Associates about your experience with a defective product, call 419.841.4400. Our product liability lawyers will explain the options that you have regarding the injuries sustained.

2 Sep 2014 Continue Reading

Injured in Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents have proven to be some of the most serious accidents that occur on the roadway today. Due to the fact that motorcyclists are not fully protected while riding their bikes in addition to their unmatched size with the other vehicles they tend to be in accidents with (compact cars, trucks, etc.), the odds are that such accidents end in serious injury or even death.

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Contrada & Associates have helped many injured victims through the legal process. Since many motorcycle accidents are caused by another vehicle on the road, the injured motorcyclist is able to pursue a personal injury claim.

Personal Injury: Motorcycle Accident

When an individual is injured on a motorcyclist, the type of legal claim that is filed is for personal injury. The injured victim should almost always go to the emergency room following the accident. In almost every incident there is injury, although for some people it can be masked by adrenaline that kicks in after a crash. Seeking medical care helps to protect the physical health of the individual and it also documents the injuries that were sustained in the accident.

After the injuries have been treated in an emergency room, our personal injury lawyers recommend that injured motorcycle accident victims contact a lawyer. Hiring a lawyer to work on your behalf from the beginning in such accidents can greatly affect the outcome of your settlement, particularly if photographs and measurements need to be taken at the scene to verify that you were not at fault.

Contrada & Associates works to help injured individuals receive the compensation that is warranted for the injuries that are sustained. There are several things that are affected by an injury, including the medical bills that must be dealt with in addition to effects on other areas of life. For example, if a 40-year-old male was injured in a motorcycle accident due to the fault of another driver and suffered injury, the following things could occur due to the injury:

  • Medical bills
  • Time off work/lost wages
  • Missed family vacations, weddings, etc.
  • Inability to attend child’s sporting events
  • Emotional trauma/distress

Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or your loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in injury, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer. The sooner that you hire a lawyer to represent you, the easier the legal process becomes. If you do not have a lawyer, you can expect to receive calls from the insurance company requesting statements regarding the accident.

There are several things that a personal injury victim can unknowingly do following an accident that jeopardizes their case. Contacting a personal injury lawyer soon after the accident prevents you from making statements that could hurt your claim, or possibly signing documents that you shouldn’t. Call Contrada & Associates at 419.841.4400 to review your accident with our personal injury lawyers and learn what your legal options are.

28 Aug 2014 Continue Reading

Injured in an Accident with a Semi Truck

Contrada & Associates has handled numerous trucking accidents in the past. From our experience helping trucking accident victims, we can say that these accidents are often very serious. When a semi-truck is involved in an accident with a smaller vehicle such as a compact car, the difference in size and force is massive. This is one of the many reasons why these accidents often result in serious injury or fatality.

Injured in Trucking Accident

When involved in a trucking accident, yourself or your loved one could possibly suffer serious injuries. If the at-fault driver in the accident was the truck driver, then a trucking accident lawyer can help you to pursue a legal case.

Pursing a legal claim following a trucking accident will allow you to receive compensation for the injuries sustained, as well as the other effects of the accident.

Trucking Accident Lawsuit

There are many things that are affected when someone is seriously injured in a trucking accident. First off, the injuries sustained can cause numerous medical expenses in addition to time off of work and lost wages. There are also psychological injuries that often occur, causing emotional injuries that may affect the individual in both the short-term and long-term.

In fact some years ago, personal injury lawyer Charles Contrada was appointed by a Federal judge to be the liaison counsel on behalf of all the injured individuals in a 21-car pileup that was caused by a semi truck here in Toledo, Ohio.

It is important to have a trucking accident lawyer help you with your legal claim because they have experience with the entire legal process. The lawyers at Contrada & Associates work on your behalf to obtain the most favorable settlement. This includes everything from investigating the accident and hiring an accident reconstructionist if necessary, as well as ensuring that all proper documents are retrieved. When it comes to a trucking accident, it is often important to obtain the driving records from the trucking company, the driver’s logbook, as well as other information regarding the driver’s driving history.

If the trucking accident involves multiple vehicles, a trucking accident lawyer will help to ensure that all proper documentation is done and that you ultimately receive a favorable settlement. Without the guidance of an experienced trucking accident lawyer, you could possibly end up not receiving the full amount of compensation that you deserve.

Trucking Accident Lawyers in Toledo

If you or your loved one has been involved in a trucking accident, call Contrada & Associates to speak with a lawyer about your options. Our lawyers offer personalized attention to all of our clients as we believe it is critical for personal injury victims to be fully informed throughout the legal process. Call 419.841.4400 to speak with attorney Charlie Contrada about your legal options.

26 Aug 2014 Continue Reading

What is considered Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death is when an individual’s negligent behavior or wrongdoing causes the death of another person. In the case of wrongful death, the family members of the decedent (the individual who has died) can be included in a claim for the death of their loved one.

Examples of common wrongful death causes include fatal car accidents or work accidents. Due to the complicating factors for most wrongful death claims, our attorneys recommend that any family dealing with the loss of a loved one due to another’s negligence contact a wrongful death attorney to explain their legal options.

Who can sue for wrongful death?

Those who can be included in a wrongful death lawsuit include the following individuals who have relationships with the decedent:

  • Spouses – spouses may pursue a wrongful death claim for the loss of their loved one
  • Children – children of the decedent may receive compensation for the loss of their parent
  • Siblings – if there is a relationship with the decedent

The wrongful death lawsuit is filed by a personal representative of the decedent’s estate. The personal representative of the estate in the wrongful death lawsuit is usually the person named the executor of the decedent’s estate.

Who is the wrongful death lawsuit against?

There are various individuals and entities that a wrongful death can be filed against. One wrongful death lawsuit can even include multiple defendants. For example, if a fatal car accident involved a faulty bridge in addition to a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, the resulting wrongful death lawsuit could include both as defendants:

  • The driver responsible for the car accident
  • The construction company of the faulty bridge
  • The manufacturer of the faulty bridge component

Having an experienced wrongful death attorney to represent you and your family is important to your settlement. An attorney can ensure that all proper steps are taken and the responsible individuals and entities are included in the lawsuit.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If you have lost a loved one due to a wrongful death accident, call the attorneys at Contrada & Associates. Our law office has helped countless families navigate through the wrongful death legal process, offering sympathy, understanding, and legal guidance. Call our office at 419.841.4400 to speak directly to a wrongful death attorney about your case. We will review your options and work on your behalf to ensure that your family receives the compensation that is deserved for your loss.

 

21 Aug 2014 Continue Reading