Personal Injury. Personal Injury Lawyers in Cleveland

If you were injured due to someone’s reckless actions you have the right to take legal action against them. You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit.

A personal injury claim seeks financial compensation for:

• Injuries
• Medical expenses
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Other losses as a result of the incident

Pursuing a personal injury claim also holds the negligent person/ people accountable. This will help ensure that similar harm does not happen to others.

What Kind of Personal Injury Cases Do We Handle?

The Mellino Law Firm is located about 15 minutes outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Our firm is led by experienced attorney Christopher Mellino. He has 40 years of experience in representing personal injury clients. Christopher has worked on all types of personal injury cases, from motor vehicle accidents to product liability cases. 

We solely represent clients who suffer from debilitating and permanent injuries. We limit the number of cases we take to ensure that we can put our full attention and resources into each case. 

Our firm handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases that involve:

• Car accidents
• Catastrophic injuries
• Child injuries 
• Commercial vehicle accidents
• Drowning accidents
• Electrocution accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Product liability
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Truck accidents 

If you have questions about a potential personal injury case, we invite you to call our office at (440) 333-3800.

What Are the Benefits of Filing a Personal Injury Claim?

When you are injured there are a lot of obvious costs attached to it. This can include large medical expenses or prescription costs. But did you know that you can also receive compensation for your lost wages and the pain you experienced? A personal injury claim can compensate you for these losses and more.

For instance, a personal injury claim can help you recover compensation for:

• Current medical bills and treatment costs
• Future medical treatment cost
• Current lost wages 
• Future lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damages
• Loss of consortium
• Funeral and burial costs, in the event of death
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
  • Costs for home renovations for wheelchair accessibility, in-home care, and more

How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

When a personal injury attorney makes promises that seem too good to be true, they probably are. The outcome of any lawsuit depends on several factors. It’s misleading for an attorney to “guarantee” the amount of compensation you’ll receive. This is especially misleading if they make this promise before all the facts have come to light.

You should also be wary if your attorney promises that your case will settle in a short time. In some cases, that may be true. But, if you have significant injuries you’ll need to wait until your injuries heal. This way you will have a better understanding of your long-term medical costs.

It’s important to keep in mind that once you accept a settlement from an insurance company that’s it. That’s all the compensation you will receive.

How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Case?

The statute of limitations refers to how long someone has to file a case after an incident. It is very important to know the time frame of how long you have to bring a case in Ohio.

According to Ohio Revised Law Section 2305.10, for personal injury cases  the victim has two years to file a case.  If the case is not filed within this two-year time frame, it will likely be dismissed. Once you hire a personal injury attorney they will make sure your claim is filed in plenty of time before the statute of limitations is up.

What Evidence Is Necessary in a Personal Injury Claim?

If you suffered a severe injury due to someone else’s negligence, you can trust our firm to help you build a strong case. The necessary evidence varies from case to case. This will depend on the facts of your accident. But, in any personal injury case, it would benefit you to gather the following:

• Pictures from the accident scene, property damage, and visible injuries;
• Bills or receipts for treatment, prescriptions, and rehabilitation equipment;
• An affidavit from your employer to prove that your injuries caused you to miss work;
• Contact information of witnesses who can help establish fault; and
• A copy of the police report, if there is one.

Insurance companies have attorneys, so you should too. One of the first questions adjusters ask is, “Who is representing the plaintiff?” Since this information is important to the insurance company, it should be important to you.

Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

When someone’s negligence causes you or a loved one to be severely injured, you may want to hire a personal injury attorney. This is especially important since the insurance company’s main goal is to minimize your compensation.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you when:

• The statute of limitations is running out in your case;
• Your injuries may lead to long-term rehabilitation;
• You face future medical costs or lost wages that you don’t feel are being compensated;
• The liable party doesn’t have insurance or has minimal coverage;
• The insurance company is pressuring you to settle; and
• There is a dispute about who was at fault for the accident.

Not every accident will turn into a lawsuit. For instance, bruises and minor injuries won’t justify the cost of hiring an attorney. But, if you’ve suffered serious injuries, or lost a loved one, it’s important to act quickly to protect your rights. Contact our Cleveland office with any questions you may have.

How to Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney in Cleveland

To find the right personal injury attorney for your case, you should ask a lot of questions. First and foremost, you should ask about experience. For instance, if you hire a divorce attorney for your personal injury case, you may not receive the compensation you’re entitled to. 

In addition to experience, you should ask the following questions:

• What is your opinion of my case?
• What documents will you need me to provide?
• What legal organizations are you involved in?
• Have you earned any professional honors or awards?
• What settlements and verdicts have you achieved for other clients?
• Are you willing to take a case to trial if the other side doesn’t give a fair settlement?
• Have you ever gone to trial?
• Will you be the attorney handling my case?
• How will we communicate- by phone or email?
• What happens if I lose my case?

It is also important to ask a personal injury attorney about their fees. This way you won’t be blindsided when your case ends. If your lawyer charges a contingency fee, he or she won’t get paid unless you get paid. If he or she charges by the hour, you should know this upfront. You should also take advantage of free consultations. During this meeting, you can ask the questions above, and decide if this attorney is right for you.

Call the Mellino Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation

In 1997, Chris Mellino and his former partner made the cover of Ohio Lawyers Weekly. This came after they were awarded the largest verdict in the state. Chris Mellino is a respected attorney for his ability to dig below the surface. He ensures that no fact is overlooked.

Our firm depends on word-of-mouth testimonials from clients like you. Call today to see how our extensive trial skills and negotiating talent can help you and your family.

We can be reached online or by phone at (440) 333-3800. Contact us today for a free case evaluation with one of our Cleveland personal injury attorneys.