FAQ

FAQs

Stepleton Law, LLC

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Have a law-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information! In the wake of a serious accident or injury, victims are likely dealing with a range of difficulties related to medical treatment, pain and suffering, property damage, and financial losses. In such trying situations, it is understandable for victims to have numerous questions about their legal options, who is responsible for their losses, and what they can do to pursue the compensation they need.


At Stepleton Law, LLC, we understand how important the answers to these questions are, which is why we have provided the following list of some of the questions we are asked most frequently along with their answers. We hope that the information provided on these pages is helpful, but if you do not see the information you are looking for on this page, do not hesitate to contact our personal injury lawyers by calling (513) 321-7733 right away.

  • An insurance company is requesting full access to my medical records. Should I give them these records?

    Although an insurance company may request these records in a friendly or urgent tone, it’s very rare for an insurer to have a reasonable cause to ask for unlimited access to medical records unless they’re preparing for a potential lawsuit from that individual. As a result, it may not be in a person’s best interests to provide this access. This may also be an indication that an injured individual should think about preparing their claim quickly, as their potential defendant may already have a significant head start.


    If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to file for compensation for your injury costs.


    However, you may face considerable resistance from the person responsible or an insurance company liable for coverage expenses.


    Fortunately, our personal injury attorneys of Stepleton Law may be able to help you fight for justice despite a tough defendant. Contact our offices today.

  • An insurer is requesting an accident report. Should I answer their questions?

    Insurance companies that recognize the high likelihood of an impending lawsuit may take whatever action they can to undermine a claimant's arguments. This includes requesting information before any official legal claim begins and even asking an injured individual questions that may jeopardize their claim later. If an insurance company requests specific accident information, a person should consider consulting with an injury attorney before providing the company with a full statement on the accident.

  • Can an attorney help me with case paperwork?

    Yes, an attorney can work with their client in providing crucial advice and information about their case, organize and gather evidence and experts for testimony, provide representation inside and out of court, and tackle much of a client’s expected paperwork in the course of a claim. In fact, handling this paperwork can reduce the possibility for an error or misunderstanding, potentially helping a client’s case run smoother through the legal process.


    If you’ve been injured and are considering a personal injury lawsuit, but aren’t sure about whether you need legal assistance, you should consider speaking with an attorney from Stepleton Law before making any decisions. For a no-obligation, no-cost consultation, call us today.

  • Can I afford your legal services?

    Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means that a claimant won't be charged a legal fee unless they collect compensation for their claim. In many cases, claimants can add expected legal fees to the amount of compensation they're suing for, providing a fair means to cover any legal expenses involved in hiring an experienced, determined injury attorney to help them with their case.

  • Can I be guaranteed compensation for my injuries?

    Although a person may have a particularly strong case for compensation, there are no guarantees when filing a claim against a negligent party. Even in relatively simple claims, there are several factors that may go into what kinds of settlement offers a claimant may receive, if any, and how the courts will treat particular arguments. While no guarantee may be available, a claimant should know that they can drastically improve their claim by working with a strong legal advisor who can walk them through the process.


    If you have questions or concerns about your legal options when filing a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your injuries, we can help you find the information you’re looking for. To learn more about our legal services and how we may be able to help you with your case, contact the personal injury attorneys of Stepleton Law today.

  • Can I collect punitive damages in my case?

    Punitive damages are awarded in some personal injury lawsuits to provide compensation for particularly malicious or grossly negligent incidents. These awards are provided by the courts, meaning that not all cases will result in any amount of punitive damages. If there is no precedence for punitive damages, it’s unlikely that the courts will opt to provide this additional money to a claimant if their case is successful.


    If you've sustained a serious injury because of someone else's negligent or reckless actions and are considering legal action as a result, we may be able to guide you through this process. For a free consultation regarding how to prepare for a claim and the damages you may be able to seek, contact our personal injury attorneys at Stepleton Law today.

  • Can I sue again if I’m unhappy with my settlement or court award?

    No, once a compensation claim is settled, dismissed, or a claimant is awarded, the claim is considered closed. A claimant isn’t allowed to sue the same defendant again for the same injury and expect to receive a new compensation amount. This permanence is why it’s so important for a claimant to think clearly and carefully about who they want representing their case and advising them through the legal process.


    Your personal injury claim can help you fight for coverage for medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, and lost wages due to another person’s negligent actions. To discuss how we may be able to assist and advise you during your case, contact Stepleton Law today.

  • Do I have to go to court?

    Many people considering a legal claim may have some anxiety or worries about their case dragging on into a protracted legal fight with a stubborn defendant, causing them to have to go to court. However, some cases are settled before the claims court date even arrives. Although an injury attorney will tell you that many cases may involve some argumentation in court, a claimant may be able to settle for compensation and avoid this process altogether.

  • Do I have to take my case to court in order to recover compensation?

    No, you do not have to go to court and appear before a judge or jury in order to recover financial compensation. In fact, a majority of personal injury cases are actually settled outside of the courtroom between the two parties before having to go to court. You will better know whether or not you have to take your case to court after consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney.


    At Stepleton Law, we are committed to standing up for victims of negligence and providing them with aggressive legal representation, whether in settlement negotiations or in the courtroom. Contact our personal injury lawyers today for more information about what we may be able to do for you.

  • Do I need to find experts to strengthen my case and support my evidence?

    In certain personal injury claims, a claimant will need to find a substantial amount of evidence that links the defendant to the injury they’re suing over. Expert testimony is often a crucial element of presenting this evidence or explaining how the evidence supports the claimant’s case for compensation. However, without the help of a legal advisor, finding experts to testify can be a frustrating, complicated process.


    If you’re preparing for legal action after an injury, but still haven’t seriously talked about your case with a qualified legal professional,

    our injury lawyers at Stepleton Law may be able to help you. To learn more about our full range of services and how we put our clients’ best interests first, call us today.

  • Do I really need an attorney for my personal injury lawsuit?

    While a claimant isn't legally obligated to use an injury attorney to file a claim or argue their case, they will likely find it extremely beneficial to rely on the kind of assistance a qualified professional can offer. Attorneys can navigate the often confusing and frustrating legal intricacies needed to pursue financial compensation in a lawsuit, as well as provide assistance in gathering evidence and testimony to support those arguments. Also, an attorney can provide advice and information when a claimant may need it most.

  • How will compensation be paid?

    There are two ways compensation from a successful injury claim may be paid to the claimant, regardless of if the compensation was won through a settlement or court decision. The more common method of payment is known as a structured settlement. Structured settlements are paid over a regular schedule in predetermined amounts. The other payment option is known as a lump sum, which provides the full amount in a single sum.


    If you’ve sustained injuries because of someone else’s negligence and are considering a legal claim as a result, we may be able to help with your preparations and answering any questions you may have. To discuss the details of your claim with a reliable legal advisor, contact our personal injury attorneys of Stepleton Law by calling us today.

  • If I win, how will I receive my compensation?

    There are two ways a claimant can receive compensation if their claim is successful, but one is much more common than the other.


    The more common method is known as a structured settlement. As many defendants either don’t have the money to pay out a full settlement immediately or would financially prefer not to, they may break up their settlement over regular payment intervals. Over time, the full settlement amount is paid to the claimant. The less common method, known as a lump sum, is to pay a claimant their full settlement at once.


    If you would like to learn more about the details of personal injury lawsuits and what to expect if you file a claim, we can help you better understand how these claims work. To discuss your claim in further detail with a knowledgeable legal professional, contact Stepleton Law today.

  • My current lawyer is doing a poor job with my case. Can you help?

    A claimant has one opportunity to file a compensation lawsuit and fight for justice, and this opportunity shouldn't be squandered through poor legal advice or representation. If a claimant is unhappy with their injury attorney, they are entitled to drop that law firm and seek another one's services. Considering that many law firms may take on too many cases to handle or may not have strong experience with particular types of cases, it's important for a claimant to remember that there are other attorneys available if their current one appears to be underperforming.

  • Should I settle with the defendant or should I wait for the court’s decision?

    Many claimants may be presented with an attractive settlement offer from the defendant in their case before the court is close to making a final decision on the case. These settlements may offer a significant amount of compensation and finish the case long before the court is ready to rule, giving a claimant the money they need faster. However, these settlements may not always be the best decision for a claimant to take. Depending on the particular circumstances of the case, it may be best to wait on the court.


    If you’re facing a difficult decision with your personal injury lawsuit and need some legal assistance in making tough choices, our legal advisors are prepared to offer some assistance. For a free consultation regarding the details of your case and how we may be

    able to help, contact Stepleton Law today.

  • What do I need to prove when suing an automotive manufacturer?

    Automotive defect claims are rarely ever argued on the basis of the defendant’s negligence, unlike many other types of personal injury lawsuits. Instead, defects in automotive parts are considered to be an inherent danger to anyone in the vehicle, making the manufacturer potentially liable. This type of lawsuit is known as a strict liability claim and doesn’t require a claimant to illustrate that the manufacturer’s actions lead to a defect, but just that the defect lead to an injury.


    If your car accident injuries were caused by an automotive defect, we may be able to help you through the process of filing a compensation claim against the responsible manufacturer. For more information about your full range of legal options after an injury on the road, contact Stepleton Law today.

  • What if I was partially at fault for the incident?

    When a person files a personal injury lawsuit, they may lose a certain amount of compensation based on how much their actions contributed to the incident. However, according to Ohio's comparative negligence laws, a person to blame for only a minor portion of the incident - up to 50% - may still be compensated for their injuries. As long as a person isn't mostly at fault for the incident, they can still consider a personal injury claim. An accident lawyer will be able to walk you through this process and help you understand how much compensation you are eligible to receive.

  • What is negligence?

    Proving negligence is the basis of all personal injury claims and occurs when a party does not fulfill his or her obligation to keep others safe. Proving negligence can be difficult and complicated, primarily because it can be subject to interpretation. In order to prove negligence occurred, a plaintiff must prove the defendant owed a duty of care, he or she acted in a way to neglect that duty, and the victim was injured as a result of the defendant’s actions.


    Discuss the details of your case and your legal options moving forward today by calling Stepleton Law, LLC today.

  • What kind of compensation could I recover?

    If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else's actions, you may be able to recover damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. By filing a successful lawsuit, you could potentially recover both compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are intended to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other costs you incurred due to the accident. On the other hand, an accident lawyer may also be able to help you recover punitive damages if the defendant acted especially recklessly or dangerously and knew their actions could potentially cause harm.

  • What kinds of records should I keep of my injuries and expenses?

    If possible, a prospective claimant should keep any information they have about their injuries or expenses they incurred due to their injuries. This information can be a valuable resource during a compensation lawsuit, as it may help to prove the extent of a claimant’s injuries, that they took proper action to receive treatment, and should be paid the compensation amount they’re demanding. If documents are lost, some may have been copied and may be retrieved from hospitals or through police reports. A legal advisor may also be able to help gather this evidence.


    If you’re looking for much-needed assistance in building a case against the person or people responsible for your injuries, we may be able to help you with your claim. For more information about the kind of important legal advice and representation we may be able to provide to you for your case, contact Stepleton Law today.

  • What’s the difference between negligence and recklessness?

    A person may be sued on different grounds depending on the acts they committed which caused the claimant’s injury. If a person owed the claimant some sort of duty, such as driving safely or properly maintaining their property, and failed to perform that duty, the resulting injury claim may be pursued on the grounds of negligence. On the other hand, recklessness occurs when someone knowingly or intentionally commits a dangerous, often illegal, act that results in a claimant’s injury.


    If someone has injured you or a loved one because of actions they willingly took, they may be sued for financial compensation on the grounds of reckless behavior. To learn more about how to pursue legal action after an injury, contact Stepleton Law today.

  • When do I need to file a personal injury claim?

    Although many people may want to take some time to consider their full range of legal options, the law requires that claimants file a lawsuit within a certain amount of time after an injury. For most personal injury claims, a claimant has up to two years from when they were injured to pursue legal action. This may be extended if a person doesn't initially realize they were injured, as may be the case with internal injuries, or if the person injured was a child at the time of the injury. If you've been injured in an accident and need a car or motorcycle accident lawyer, contact us as soon as possible.

  • When should I speak with an attorney?

    An injured individual may want to discuss their legal options and preparations immediately after they're injured. Speaking with a qualified legal professional early on can help a claimant avoid problematic mistakes in their claim that may damage their case later. Additionally, the advice and guidance provided by an injury attorney can assist a claimant against the actions that a defendant or insurance company takes.

  • Will my doctor allow me to pay them after a lawsuit?

    In some cases, a claimant may not necessarily have the funds immediately available to pay for the medical services provided to them. Even insurance may not cover all of these expenses, putting a significant burden on the injured individual's household. Whether a doctor will put off payment responsibilities until after a pending lawsuit is finished is ultimately up to the medical care provider's policies. Some hospitals or doctors may permit a delay in payment, while others may not. To learn more, contact our law firm today.

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