You may be considering filing a personal injury (PI) lawsuit for a car accident, slip-and-fall, or other accident causing injury.
With this decision comes many questions. The most pressing question you may have is: What is my case worth?
Average personal injury settlements in Ohio vary widely. It is impossible to estimate an average personal injury settlement with certainty. But key factors affecting Ohio personal injury settlements provide guidance.
For a free consultation with an experienced Ohio personal injury lawyer, please call (419) 455-1410 or send us an online message today.
What Affects Settlement Values in Personal Injury Claims?
Several factors determine settlement value, including:
- The extent and severity of the injury,
- Disruptions to daily life due to injuries,
- Insurance policy limits,
- Treatment and recovery type,
- Lost wages,
- Pain and suffering,
- Whether the claim is contested, and
- Certainty of liability.
To significantly impact the compensation you might receive, hire an attorney. Negotiating a settlement instead of taking the first offer will also increase your chance of obtaining a favorable settlement.
Damages Available in Personal Injury Cases
In most cases, accident victims can pursue compensation for damages.
Damages include things like:
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Lost wages,
- Lost quality of life,
- Loss of earning capacity, and
- Pain and suffering.
You may even be able to get punitive damages in the most egregious cases.
But keep in mind that you must bring your personal injury claim within two years after “the cause of action accrues,” with some exceptions. Normally, this is two years from the date you were injured. If you miss the deadline, the person at fault for your injuries will pay nothing.
Recent Settlements and Verdicts in Ohio
There is no way to provide a definitive value of an average PI settlement in Ohio. However, reviewing specific actual settlements and verdicts can shed light on the value of your case.
2022, Ohio: $15,000 Verdict
A facilities manager was operating a golf-cart-like vehicle. He was rear-ended while he was stopped at a red light at an intersection. He suffered injuries to his neck, back, and jaw. He sued for negligence in the operation of a vehicle and claimed a whiplash injury. The defense admitted liability. The case proceeded to trial on causation and damages. He sought $350,000, claiming aggravation of preexisting injuries. The jury awarded the plaintiff $15,000.
2021, Ohio: $78,840 Verdict
An ice company employee delivered ice to a grocery store. As the employee put ice into the ice box, one of the bags broke. Ice spilled onto the floor. The ice company employee and grocery store employees attempted to clean the area. They also put up a sign warning people about the floor. More than 30 minutes later, a 53-year-old woman slipped near the ice box and claimed a knee injury. She sued the grocery store and the ice company for a dangerous condition. The jury allocated fault to the grocery store, the ice company, and the woman. Her net recovery following the jury trial was $78,840.
2021, Ohio: $75,000 Settlement
A motorcyclist crashed after hitting a pothole while riding her motorcycle. She was thrown off her bike and landed in bushes and trees along the interstate. She sustained arm, hand, neck, and leg injuries. She was diagnosed with an open fracture and had road rash on her hand, neck, and legs. She claimed that the roadway was negligently maintained. This case settled for $75,000.
2020, Ohio: $500,000 Settlement
A teenager sustained injuries to her head, ankle, and leg when she was struck by a car as she crossed a crosswalk. The crosswalk’s traffic control device was not showing a walk signal at the time of the accident. She was hospitalized for four days following the accident. The teenager claimed that the driver was negligent in the operation of his vehicle. She sued the driver and her own insurance company for underinsured motorist benefits. The teenager’s insurance company agreed to tender its $500,000 policy limit to settle the case.
2020, Ohio: $1,500,000 Settlement
An employee was walking in her employer’s parking lot when she was attacked and bitten by three German shepherds. She suffered severe lacerations and nerve damage to her legs. The employee claimed that the dogs’ owner negligently failed to control his dogs. The owner of the dog disputed that his dogs attacked her. The insurer of the dogs’ owner agreed to tender its $1,500,000 policy limit to settle the case.
2020, Ohio: $6,000 Settlement
A 77-year-old man was riding as a passenger in a vehicle when the vehicle was rear-ended by a sheriff’s vehicle. A sheriff’s employee drove the vehicle. The employee was not using the car’s lights and sirens at the time. The plaintiff suffered injuries to his neck, back, and shoulders. He sought medical care with a chiropractor and no additional treatment. He claimed that the driver was negligent in the operation of his vehicle and that the county sheriff’s office was vicariously liable for the driver’s actions. The parties negotiated a settlement. The county agreed to pay $6,000.
Injured in an Accident? Hire the Right Ohio Personal Injury Attorney
It is critical that you retain an experienced attorney familiar with personal injury settlement amounts.
Bensinger Legal Services can provide guidance and compare your case with others.
But as any ethical lawyer will tell you, no attorney can guarantee a particular settlement—or even promise a minimum amount.
Each case is unique.
The only way to get an accurate assessment of your case is to discuss it in detail with an experienced personal injury attorney. Aaron Bensinger has extensive experience representing clients in personal injury cases.
Reach out to Bensinger Legal Services today for a free consultation. Call (419) 455-1410 or contact us online to get started.
Aaron L. Bensinger is an Ohio attorney serving personal injury and civil litigation clients. He has extensive trial experience and makes client service is his primary focus. As a partner at Balyeat, Leahy, Daley, Miller & Bensinger, LLC, Aaron happily works in Lima, OH, and serves the entire Northwest region of the state and beyond.
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