Types of Personal Injury
- Motor vehicle accident
- Truck accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Products liability (injured by a defective product)
- Dog Bites
- Catastrophic injury
- Premises liability
- Assault and battery
Slive & Slive Co., L.P.A. has represented many individuals suffering from serious injury. We are experienced and successful trial lawyers who provide sophisticated legal representation for almost any type of bodily injury. We have defended the rights of plaintiffs in a variety of personal injury matters including auto accident injuries, premises liability injuries, slip/trip and falls, product liability claims, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents and swimming pool deaths.
An experienced attorney, after some investigation, can determine whether the criteria for negligence can be proven. In addition, an experienced attorney can evaluate the circumstances of an injured person’s case to determine the amount and kind of compensation owed. Moreover, an experienced attorney is needed to negotiate settlement terms, prepare for trial, if necessary, and ensure the injured person is fairly and justly compensated. It is important to note that the statute of limitations for personal injury in Ohio is two (2) years after the injury occurred or was reasonably discovered.
Slive & Slive Co., L.P.A. will briefly evaluate your personal injury claim during a free phone or in-person consultation. Upon a determination of the merits of your case, Slive & Slive Co., L.P.A. accepts personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that if there is no recovery then there are no attorney fees. You do not need to pay the attorney a retainer to start the case.
Personal Injury
Personal injury law (a form of tort law) encompasses three categories:
- Negligence: Where the tortfeasor caused an accident that caused injury
- Intentional torts: Where the tortfeasor purposely inflicted injury
- Strict liability: Where the tortfeasor manufactured, marketed, or sold a defective product that caused injury
The most common reason for personal injury claims and lawsuits is negligence. We all owe others around us a duty to exercise reasonable care in our activities. Negligence is the breach of that duty of care. When a person is injured as a result of the negligence of another person or entity, such as in an automobile accident, that person may be entitled to compensation based on the losses and damages suffered.
In order to prove negligence, you must support your claim with the following 4 elements:
- Duty: The other party owed you a duty of care
- Breach: The other party breached this duty
- Causation: The other party’s breach caused the accident
- Damages: You suffered damages as a result of the accident
Contingency Fee
Slive & Slive Co., L.P.A. accepts personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. In other words, you do not need to pay a retainer to begin your case or pay attorney fees if there is no recovery. Instead, Slive & Slive will collect one third (1/3) of your recovery as attorney fees if your case is settled without suit and forty (40%) of your recovery if suit must be filed. Slive & Slive will also pay for any and all expenses associated with your case out of your recovery.
Insurance
Slive & Slive Co. L.P.A will closely review your case to determine if there is insurance available to compensate you for your personal injury. When a wrongdoer in a motor vehicle case is without insurance, you can make a claim against your own insurance company if you have uninsured motorist coverage.
Pedestrian Accidents
More than one hundred thousand pedestrians are injured each year in the United States. Many factors contribute to drivers’ negligence in causing pedestrian accidents including:
- Driver inattention.
- Failure to observe posted speed limits.
- Failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians at marked crosswalks.
- Negligent turns at an intersection.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Pedestrians who are hit by motor vehicles may have a claim for negligence against the driver that hit them. Like negligence cases in general, it is best to contact an experienced attorney who can expertly evaluate your case.
Product Liability
There are many examples of product deficiencies including defectively designed or manufactured products; products that do not live up to their respective warranties or guarantees; products that causes injury due to normal use and products that have unclear, incorrect or incomplete instructions or guidelines for use and therefore cause injury or damage.
The most common claim against a manufacturer is one based on the concept of "strict liability". Under the “strict liability” theory claim, you don’t have to prove that the manufacturer was "negligent". Plaintiff must however prove that:
- The produce was in fact defective
- The defect existed prior to the manufacturer releasing the product
- The defect caused your damages
Each product defect case is unique to that product. Whether the manufacturer or seller is liable will depend on the facts of the case and on the actual product.
Premises Liability
When someone is injured on the premises of another, the question of Homeowner’s or Property Insurance which covers the premises is critical. An attorney may be required to make painstaking efforts to locate and pursue insurance coverage that will provide adequate compensation for the plaintiffs’ injuries and damages.
Truck Accident
If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck or tractor/trailer, you may have suffered extensive personal injuries and/or property damage. It is advisable for you to consult with an experienced accident lawyer before initiating a claim of negligence against a commercial truck or tractor/trailer entity.
Motorcycle Accident
If you have been involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle, you may have suffered extensive personal injuries as a result. It is advisable that you consult with an experienced attorney to ensure the full nature and extent of your damages is taken into consideration in securing a recovery.
Assault and Battery
Assault and battery, in addition to being criminal offenses, are intentional torts for which you could receive compensation. Assault occurs when an individual poses an intentional, reasonable, unlawful threat to cause you bodily injury. Battery occurs when an individual engages in the willful and unlawful touching of another person. It is advisable that you consult an experienced attorney before initiating a claim for assault and/or battery, as the wrongdoer may be able to raise several legal defenses.
Catastrophic Injury
See “Medical Malpractice” and “Wrongful Death” sections.
Contact Us
With immediate and long-term concerns to consider, you want to make sure you are protected after suffering an injury. At the Cleveland law offices of Slive & Slive, we can help you understand your case and assist with medical management. We will use our skills to obtain the best possible compensation for you. In addition to our weekly office hours, we offer Saturday morning appointments. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis; therefore, our attorney fees are secured from your recovery.
