Personal Injury FAQ

Negligence is a failure to use ordinary care. Ordinary care means that each person is required to use the care that any reasonably careful person would use under the same or similar circumstances to avoid causing injury.

In a civil case, a lawyer must prove the injured person’s claim by a “preponderance of the evidence.” This means that the lawyer has to prove that the injured person has the greater weight of evidence.

Possibly. You should contact a lawyer to discuss the specific facts and talk about your rights. In Ohio, employees are covered by workers’ compensation if the employer pays into the program. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is available to pay your medical bills and provide you some compensation if you are hurt at work. Generally, an employee cannot sue the employer for injuries that happen at work. However, there is an exception to this general rule if your employer deliberately intends to hurt you. These cases are called “workplace intentional torts.” A lawyer can explain the law to you and determine if you have a case.

This is a complicated question because every situation should be examined individually. If you think you might have a claim, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. An example of a legitimate case would be if an employer removes the safety guards from a machine to speed up production, then requires you to work on the unguarded machine.

Yes. In Ohio, you can make a claim against a third party (someone who is not your employer or employed by your employer) if they were negligent and caused you harm. You should take it to a lawyer right away because these situations are usually complicated. Your lawyer will investigate to determine the identities of the people or companies at fault. Many times, your lawyer can find information through police reports or governmental agencies like OSHA.

Yes. There are laws that protect employees from retaliation by the employer for filing a claim through the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

Yes. You will be required to pay the BWC back if your receive compensation for your injuries from a third party. When you pursue a claim against a person or entity, the BWC has what is called a right of “subrogation,” or reimbursement. The BWC will expect to be paid back for past payment of medical bills and, in certain cases, for expected future payment of medical bills. However, the amount of this reimbursement may be negotiable. An attorney can handle these negotiations for you and also make sure that the right to any future benefits is also protected.

Landlords have a duty to maintain your premises so it is safe and habitable (occupied in reasonable comfort.) Most landlords do a good job, but some don’t fulfill their legal duty. If you are worried about a dangerous condition, it is important to document the problem and notify the landlord. A good way to do this is by sending a polite letter by certified mail that explains the problem in detail. Request that the landlord fix the problem. You might want to enclose pictures. You must document the fact that you told the landlord about the problem. Doing it verbally isn’t sufficient. If this doesn’t work, many cities have Housing Courts that can help.

Yes, if it can be proven that the store or one of its employees was negligent. An example of negligence in this situation would be if store employees were stocking shelves improperly. However, it will be very important for the lawyer to know exactly what type and weight of product caused your injury. If you are able to do so, take photographs of the item that caused your injury and note the exact location of the product. Get the names of witnesses. If the store asks you to fill out an incident report, get the name of the manager on duty and ask for a copy of the incident report.

Yes. A host who invites a guest to his house owes that person a duty to exercise ordinary care (care that a reasonable person in the same or similar situation would take) not to cause injury the guest. The host also has a duty to warn the guest of any conditions that he or she might not notice.

Yes, if it can be proven that the adult knew he was serving alcohol to minors. Ohio law makes it illegal to serve alcohol to minors. It is also illegal to allow a minor to drink alcohol in your house or on your premises. These situations may be covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy. You should contact a lawyer to discuss your situation.

Yes. There are laws in Ohio that can hold the bar financially responsible for continuing to supply alcohol to a person who is obviously intoxicated. Bar and restaurant employees should be trained to know when to stop serving a customer. A lawyer experienced in this area of the law will investigate your situation and help you find all possible ways for you to obtain compensation.

Yes. Ambulette drivers should be trained on how to properly secure a wheelchair to the van. Ambulette drivers also have a duty to follow all traffic laws. An experienced attorney will know how to investigate the circumstances and determine if the ambulette company was following Ohio law.