When you suffer a serious personal injury, or when a loved one is seriously injured or killed, your life is filled with unsettling change. It is often difficult to focus on the next step. An understanding of your legal rights can help you deal effectively with the crisis. Accidental injury and death can result from many types of incidents, ranging from pedestrian accidents to unsafe work environments. When a shopping mall, hotel, apartment complex or other commercial establishment fails to provide adequate security, personal injury or death can result. Injury and death can also occur when a business fails to keep its premises in safe condition for customers. These are known as "premises liability" cases. In the workplace, personal injury and death can be caused by a callous disregard for safety. These "intentional tort" cases, as they are called, are complex and hard to prove. These various types of personal injury and death claims are governed by different legal standards. Attention to detail is critical in determining fault and ensuring that injured persons receive full and fair compensation. Significant personal injury can occur at any time without warning, leaving victims reeling. At those times, it is generally wise to consult an experienced personal injury law firm as soon as possible. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may forget important details. Obtain names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses. Photograph the scene where the injury occurred and any visible injuries (cuts, bruises). Professional photographs are generally preferable, but not essential. Talk to no one about the accident or injuries other than your personal physician or lawyer. Consult a lawyer before answering questions from insurance company representatives. Tell your personal physician or surgeon exactly how the injury occurred, and describe all symptoms and complaints. Be sure to report memory problems, confusion or disorientation, however minor these things may seem at the time. Begin keeping a diary of how the injury or death affects your life and your family. In particular, write down all medical related visits and everything that causes physical pain, frustration or worry. Obtain and keep receipts for all expenses relating to the incident. Damages which a victim and the victim's family may be entitled to recover include: hospital and medical expenses, both past and future lost earnings, both past and future permanent physical disability, such as a limp, scars, loss of a limb emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety grief and emotional suffering caused by the death of a loved one loss of love and companionship caused by the death of a loved one funeral expenses damage or destruction of property physical pain and suffering loss of enjoyment of life Even if the victim is partially at fault, they may still be entitled to recover a portion of their damages. Under Ohio's law of comparative fault, if more than one person causes an accident, the fault is shared by the parties. The law firm of Dolle, Rueger and Mathews Co. L.P.A. has extensive experience handling claims involving personal injury and wrongful death. If requested we will meet with you -- in your home or at the hospital, if necessary -- to explain your legal rights and make suggestions for immediate action on your claim. There is never a charge for an initial consultation. Naturally, you are under no obligation to retain our law firm at the initial conference.