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Columbus Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury accidents can disrupt your life. Let us help you and your family pursue compensation to recover in peace.

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Give us a call at 614.602.6550
email at contact@aacolpa.com

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Were you hurt in a car accident, a slip and fall case, hurt at work, or some other act of negligence? Although your accident is unique to you, you’re probably in the same position as other injury victims: your bills are climbing, and you don’t know how to recover your losses. Fortunately, there are legal options to hold liable parties accountable.

Under Ohio personal injury law, you can recover compensation from negligent parties whose actions led to your injuries. With help from one of our Columbus personal injury lawyers, you can make a claim and reach a settlement that covers various losses, including your medical bills, lost wages, and even your pain and suffering.

At Arenstein & Andersen, Co., LPA, we can help secure a fair injury settlement or pursue a personal injury lawsuit that lets you recover physically and financially. Schedule a personal injury consultation by calling Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA at (614) 602-6550 or reaching us online.

What is Ohio Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury refers to a loss suffered because of someone’s conduct or negligence. In most personal injury cases, you’ve experienced some kind of bodily injury, but these claims can also include emotional anguish or distress.

Personal injury is a form of civil litigation, and our trial attorneys are highly experienced in this process and ready to help with your claim. Whether you or a loved one are hurt in a motor vehicle accident, by a dog bite, because of medical negligence, or some other incident, we’ll investigate, calculate your losses, and pursue the best possible personal injury settlement.

What is Negligence?

Personal injury cases revolve around the ability to prove the at-fault party was negligent and liable for your losses. The legal definition of negligence is the failure to behave with the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised in the same circumstances.

Four elements of negligence must be met to have a successful claim.

Duty of Care

As the plaintiff, you must show that the liable party owed you a “duty of care” to act in a reasonable manner. In the same circumstance, another person would have acted in a way that didn’t result in your injury.

For example, drivers have a duty of care to operate their vehicles in a way that won’t threaten other people’s safety.

Breach of Care

You must show that the defendant in your claim breached their duty of care. They acted recklessly or failed to act.

If a driver decides to operate their car while impaired, they’re breaking the social contract and breaching their duty of care.

You Were Harmed

You experienced some kind of harm in an accident. That could be physical injury, damaged property, or emotional distress.

Following our example, you were hit by the drunk driver when they drove through an intersection.

Their Actions Caused Your Injuries

Your claim must satisfy “proximate cause” and “cause-in-fact.” For the former, you must evaluate the probability that the defendant’s actions would have caused your injuries. And for the latter, you’ll need to show that their actions did cause your injuries.

In our example, speeding through an intersection while impaired is likely to result in an accident. Because the impaired driver did run through the intersection, you were hurt.

One of our personal injury attorneys can help you evaluate the details of your accident and identify anyone who shares liability for your accident through negligent actions.

We Handle These Types of Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury is a broad practice area. There are several different kinds of injuries, but some of the most common include:

Compensation Available in Personal Injury Claims

When you’re hurt because of another person’s negligence, you can recover financial compensation for your losses and suffering. There are economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are your out-of-pocket expenses, tangible losses that you can account for using receipts, repair bills, and more. Some of these losses include:

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate but are a significant factor in your settlement amount. These are conceptual losses that vary case by case. These subjective damages can include:

In some situations, requesting punitive damages against the at-fault party is possible. These damages are not meant to pay you back. Instead, they are meant to punish the defendant and discourage others from committing similar acts. They typically apply in egregious situations.

The Ohio Personal Injury Claim Process

These steps are a simple guide to preserving your personal injury claim and what you can expect during the process.

Report the Accident

You must tell the authorities about your accident. If you were in a car crash, call the police. If you were hurt in a slip-and-fall at a Columbus store, you should inform the manager and document the accident. This step is essential to creating your personal injury claim.

Get Treatment After the Injury

No matter how your accident happened, it’s crucial to your claim that you get medical attention. In many circumstances, you might be taken for treatment immediately, such as by ambulance to the hospital. Some injuries may not appear significant, but a medical evaluation can document any injuries and bolster your claim by tying your accident to your injuries.

Call a Personal Injury Lawyer

You can pursue a claim alone, but you stand a better chance of getting a more complete settlement by working with a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can advise you on what evidence you need, how to protect your claim, and what steps are available to fight for your claim.

Your attorney should be an experienced lawyer who understands your accident, can calculate your losses, gather evidence, and build a substantial case against the at-fault parties.

Filing Your Claim & Negotiations

You should notify your insurer that you’re planning on filing a claim. Your lawyer will help you draft and submit your demand letter to the defendant’s insurance company. They’ll have time to respond. They might agree to your demand or make a settlement offer. Any initial offer is likely too low: insurance companies are profit-driven and paying a claim means losing profits. Your attorney can negotiate on your behalf.

Filing a Lawsuit

If the insurance company refuses to make a settlement offer to cover your losses, you may file a personal injury lawsuit. This means you’re taking the matter seriously, and a jury or a judge will decide on your settlement. You can present a compelling argument for a comprehensive settlement with the right lawyer.

Personal Injury FAQs

Is There a Statute of Limitations in Ohio?

You have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio. This deadline starts counting down on the date of your accident. There can be exceptions, but you shouldn’t delay. The longer you wait, the more evidence you can lose, and if the time limit expires, you may be barred from receiving compensation.

What Can Affect My Settlement?

Your settlement’s value can be affected by many issues. One of the biggest examples is Ohio’s comparative negligence law: your settlement will be adjusted based on the amount of blame you share for your injury.

If you were speeding during your car crash, you could share some blame for your injuries. You’d lose some of your settlement, proportional to the amount of fault you share. Other issues include conflicting stories, weak evidence, poor arguments, or accepting a lowball settlement offer.

What Kind of Evidence Should I Find?

Each case will be different, but evidence will support your claim. Police reports, medical reports, injury journals, photographs of injuries, videos of the accident, witness statements, expert testimony, and more could bolster your claim. Talk to your attorney about how to find the evidence you need to support your personal injury claim.

What is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

Each claim is unique to the circumstances and injuries the victims suffer. Two car crashes might be similar, but the victims may have different injuries, and the causes may be different. By working with a Columbus personal injury lawyer, you can strengthen your chances of getting the maximum compensation possible.

If you have more questions, our personal injury lawyers can answer them.

Meet the team with a different approach

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G. Gregory Arenstein, Esq., LLM

Shareholder

Greg started Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA with Nicholas I. Andersen in March 2010. Greg has many years of legal and tax experience working with clients on a wide array of business, estate planning, and tax issues. Greg is an experienced problem solver with the ability to assist clients with their most complex needs and the ability to communicate with his clients in plain English. Practice areas include: Estate Planning, Business Law, Taxation, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Administration, Legal Services for Healthcare Professionals

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Nicholas I. Andersen, Esq., MBA

Shareholder

Nick started Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA with G. Gregory Arenstein in March 2010. Nick has extensive experience in civil litigation, business, estate planning, real estate, oil & gas, including pipelines, and representing taxpayers in collection actions. Nick’s practice also includes an expansive and diverse clientele of healthcare professionals, including physicians, dentists, and veterinarians. He believes in being available to his clients whenever they are in need. Practice areas include: Legal Services for Healthcare Professionals, Civil Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Oil and Gas Law, Taxation

Read Nick's's Bio

Eric R. McLoughlin, Esq.

Shareholder

Eric has many years of experience representing clients in probate and trust administration, business, and estate planning matters. He has a strong passion for helping people with their legal matters, and strives to provide all his clients with the personalized service they deserve. Practice areas include: Probate and Trust Administration, Business Law, Estate Planning

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Jessica L. Sohner, Esq. (née Samuel)

Shareholder

Jessica has years of experience representing clients in family and domestic matters, including divorce, dissolution, and post-decree matters. She believes in providing quality representation for clients while maintaining sensitivity to their individualized needs during stressful litigation. Practice areas include: Family Law, Civil Litigation, Oil and Gas Law

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Erin L. Sanford, Esq.

Shareholder

Erin joined Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA as a Shareholder in February 2022. Erin has over 12 years of experience working in all areas of family law. Erin understands that when you are navigating through the court system, whether it is a divorce, child custody matter, the need for a guardian of a loved one, or the loss of a loved one it is a stressful time and she is there to be by her clients’ side.

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Ryan L. DeYoung, Esq.

Senior Associate

Ryan is a Senior Associate at Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA. Ryan joined the firm in August 2020. Ryan’s practice is devoted to assisting clients in civil litigation matters. Prior to joining Arenstein & Andersen, his practice focused on the representation of individuals and small business debtors as an attorney with a small bankruptcy law firm for almost 7 years. In addition to his practice of bankruptcy law, Ryan also has prior experience in the litigation of housing and employment related claims, including claims brought under the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Civil Rights Act, as well as been an adjunct lecturer in The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. 

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James W. Park, Esq.

Associate

Jim and Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA formed an “of counsel” relationship in 2015 to assist the firm’s clients in the areas of bankruptcy and creditor protection. Jim has been working in personal bankruptcy since 2005. He began practicing as an attorney solely in the area of personal bankruptcy in 2007, with a focus mainly in Chapters 7 and 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Jim understands that financial distress is common today and strives to provide clients with the respect and understanding they deserve while helping them through their difficult times. In December of 2021, Jim became a full-time associate attorney at the firm.

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Robert E. Putman, Esq.

Associate

Robert joined Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA as a full-time associate attorney in October 2021. He is eager to provide clients with legal assistance in the areas of estate planning, business law, and general civil matters. He believes every client matter is unique and deserves careful professional attention to ensure the client’s interests are protected. 

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Ashley Garrison, Esq.

Associate

Ashley is an Associate Attorney with Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA. She focuses her practice in family law matters, including divorce, dissolution, child custody, parentage, child support, spousal support, prenuptial agreements, and post-decree matters.

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William K. Root, Esq., MBA

Of Counsel

Bill joined Arenstein & Andersen Co., LPA in April 2024 as Of Counsel. Bill has extensive experience in estate planning, business planning, business organizations, and planning for families with special needs.

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Joseph A. Downing, Esq.

Of Counsel

Joe has extensive experience representing clients in estate planning, probate, business, real estate, elder law, and Medicaid planning. Joe prides himself on his ability to build long-term, trusting relationships with clients, and enjoys assisting them with their short and long-term legal needs. Joe and his law firm, Joseph A. Downing Co., L.P.A., are of counsel with our firm. Practice areas include: Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Business Law, Real Estate

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Christen M. Shore, Esq.

Of Counsel

As a former adjunct professor at Capital University Law School, Christen has been practicing intellectual property law for over 20 years. She has represented multi-national corporations, universities, small business, and individuals in the protection of their intellectual property – including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Christen and her law firm, Christen M. Shore Co., L.P.A., are of counsel with our firm. Practice area include: Intellectual Property

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Kathleen A. Hanley, JD

Retired

Kathi is retired and living in Tucson, Arizona. She serves as a valuable advisor to the firm, and assists with continuity of service to her longtime clients that continue to entrust their legal needs to us.

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Learn More About The Firm

Call Columbus Personal Injury Lawyers

A personal injury accident can be a difficult time for you or a loved one. You don’t need to worry about a legal claim alone while suffering a painful recovery. Call Arenstein & Andersen Co. LPA for help with your claim. Our personal injury lawyers in Dublin and Tipp City have the comprehensive knowledge you need to fight for fair compensation after an accident.

We understand how challenging it is to face an insurance company. We’re prepared to hear your story and start working on your case. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you take the first step towards recovery.

Use our online form or call (614) 602-6550 to schedule an appointment.