Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio law does not require you to hire a lawyer to pursue a claim about an injury. If you receive only minor injuries, recover quickly, and don’t have unpaid expenses or losses, you may not need a lawyer. But if you suffer significant injuries that require long-term treatment and affect your ability to lead a normal life, a personal injury lawyer helps you recover the full compensation provided by the Ohio legal system.

Keep in mind that sometimes injuries are not apparent right after an accident. Some of those types of injuries, like traumatic brain damage or a concussion, can be extremely serious and even fatal. If you’re in any type of accident, you should immediately get a professional medical evaluation to identify any potential injuries, even if you think you were not hurt.

To recover compensation from another person, you need to demonstrate that the other person has legal liability by showing that their conduct falls short of required legal standards and that their actions caused your injuries. You also need to justify the amount of compensation you request through documentation.  Accomplishing those tasks requires knowledge of the laws and skill in applying them to a situation. That is exactly what lawyers are trained to do. Unless you have legal training, you probably cannot successfully pursue a claim for the full compensation you deserve on your own.

In most personal injury cases, an insurance company is responsible for paying compensation if a policyholder causes injuries to another person. An insurance adjuster for an at-fault party may contact you after an accident. It’s never a good idea to talk with an insurance agent before you talk with a lawyer about the accident.

Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. Their ultimate goal is to deny payment of a claim or minimize the amount of compensation they must pay you. They often try to use your own statements as the basis for denying or defending against a claim. When you have legal representation, your attorney handles all the communication with the insurance company.

You are not required to have legal counsel to pursue workers’ compensation if you are injured at work. However, talking with an attorney is the best way to make certain that you receive the full benefits you deserve under Ohio workers’ compensation law, especially if you suffered a significant work injury or are experiencing difficulty receiving benefits.

At Barrister sheed, we never charge to talk with you about a potential claim. We believe that every individual and family who suffers injuries or a loss should be able to receive professional advice about their legal rights. If you retain us, we take your case on a contingent fee basis, which means you pay us only if we secure compensation for you. Our fees are paid out of the money you recover.

Most injury claims do not end up being tried in court. Instead, they are resolved by a settlement agreed to by the parties. However, if an insurance company does not make a fair and just settlement offer, our team at Barrister sheed does not hesitate to take a case to trial to obtain justice.

For any type of injury, your highest priority is getting proper and immediate medical attention and treatment. But as soon as you are comfortable doing so, you should reach out to us about your injuries. All legal claims for compensation must be pursued within a period of time set by law, called the statute of limitations. Failure to pursue the claim within the established time frame can result in losing the ability to get compensation.