Frequently Asked Questions

Life is filled with surprises.  Sometimes these surprises aren’t pleasant and come in the form of an injury due to an accident or negligent act of another. When these accidents do occur, there are laws in place to protect you and compensate you for your losses.  In order to claim this compensation and have proper protection, you are encouraged to contact a personal injury attorney.

When you become injured, your number one priority is regaining as much of your health as possible.  Unfortunately, the stress of the financial difficulties that can quickly arise out of your injury can prohibit you from attaining a full recovery.  Dealing with the insurance companies while under this strain will often result in unfair and unjust compensation, leading to further problems down the road.  With the complicated system in place to protect you, the fact is, you need to hire someone to help protect your health and your rights.

It is vital when a personal injury arises out of the negligence of another to seek the guidance and assistance of a firm that routinely handles the type of case involved, as experience is an asset you will need.  First, seek medical attention and then hire legal representation that is reliable and will pursue your rights with determination.  This is where the Seitz Law Firm comes in.  The Seitz Law Firm routinely deals with personal injury cases such car accidents, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents, and more, concentrating in the Northern Ohio, including Cuyahoga, Lorain, Huron, Erie, Medina, Summit, Stark Counties.

Injuries due to another’s negligence can come in many forms.  The Seitz Law Firm is prepared to diligently represent you in a variety of personal injury lawsuits, including, but not limited to the following:

• Car Crashes
• Motorcycle Crashes
• Pedestrian Incidents
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Burn Injuries
• Construction Accident Cases
• Truck Accidents
• Wrongful Death

Of course, this list is not complete as there are any number of events that can lead to personal injury.  The fact is, any time you have been injured as the results of another’s actions, there may be the right to claim personal compensation, and the Seitz Law Firm is there to help.

At the Seitz Law Firm, the number of cases is managed in order to give each case the full attention it deserves, allowing each client to receive the support they need as they recover from a traumatic loss.  A manageable caseload means more attention to detail, personal treatment by staff, and a more zealous pursuit of the client’s rights.

The Seitz Law Firm’s personal injury practice includes cases stemming from a wide range of accidents and incidents of negligence.  As an example of the firm’s experience, cases include motor vehicle accidents (car accidents, truck accidents, and bus accidents), construction and work site injuries, dog bites, pedestrian and bike accidents, premises liability, and brain injury, back, neck and spinal cord injury, and wrongful deaths.

When seeking advice from the Seitz Law Firm, located in Ohio, victims should understand that their case will be reviewed at no cost during the initial consultation. It is during this initial consultation you will be asked about the incident, your injuries, and a determination of responsibility will be reached.  After this initial review, once the case is accepted, the firm will work on a contingency basis. This means that there is no out-of-pocket cost for the injured party and that the firm will retain its expenses from any settlement you receive. This method of paying for legal expenses after you have won your case ensures that everyone, regardless of income level, can receive fair and competent legal representation. Contact The Seitz Law Firm Today!

AFTER calling 911, the most important thing you can do is to write down the information about the accident as soon as possible, while the details are still fresh. Documenting the situation can be very beneficial to your personal injury claim later on. Many times, people will forget little details that could make a big difference to a case, but your notes will ensure that vital information is not forgotten.

Be sure to note information such as the weather conditions (dry, rainy, sunny, foggy, etc.), approximate time of the accident, what you saw, heard or felt. If there were witnesses, ask them for their information, so they may be contacted at a later date should it become necessary.

For your convenience, the Seitz Law Firm has prepared a sheet that you can use in the event of an accident. Sign up for the Seitz Law Firm Newsletter, and you will receive an e-mail with our Accident Information Sheet which you can print and place it in your vehicle. In the unfortunate event of a motor vehicle collision, you can simply fill it out & use it to collect the necessary information: Accident Information Sheet.

Determining who is at fault in an accident is a matter of deciding who was careless or negligent or had the last clear chance to avoid the accident and failed to do so.

The process of determining liability can be very complicated, especially when multiple vehicles are involved in an accident. If one person involved in an accident was less careful than another, the less careful one typically is responsible for paying at least a portion of the damages. The Seitz Law Firm will be happy to help you in assessing and determining liability.

The Accident Information Sheet is a great tool for you to obtain information from any other parties involved. Generally, you need to get the following information from the other party unless a police officer, at the scene of the accident, is collecting this information:

• Get the name, address and driver’s license number of the other driver
• Make sure to get the other party’s phone number (cell phone, home, etc.)
• Make and model of the other vehicle – don’t forget to write down the license plate.
• Make sure to write down the insurance info of the other party. You need to write down:
  • The name of other party’s insurance company
  • The policy number, and
  • The name of policyholder if it’s different from the driver.
• The full names and addresses of any passengers inside the vehicles.
• The full names, addresses, and phone number of any witnesses to the accident.

In legal terms, negligence is a conduct that falls below the standard of care, established by law or society, for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm, and which causes actual harm or injury.

In general, negligence refers to reckless or careless acts or behavior that leads to, causes, or contributes to an accident or injury. Negligence is the most important element to any personal injury or accident case. In order to win your case, your attorney must show that the other party acted negligently, and is therefore liable for your injuries.

No. You should never speak to the other party’s insurance company because it is never in your best interest. Remember, the insurance company’s goal is to pay the least amount of compensation possible. Instead, politely tell them that you are not able to talk about the incident at this time, and quickly seek the advice of your personal injury attorney.