{"id":375613,"date":"2016-12-19T15:06:02","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T20:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-car-accident-settlement-process-and-timeline.html"},"modified":"2025-03-12T13:52:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T18:52:55","slug":"ohio-car-accident-settlement-process-and-timeline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-car-accident-settlement-process-and-timeline.html","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Car Accident Settlement Process and Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ohio Car Accident Settlement Process and Timeline<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Most of us will get into a car accident<\/a> at some point. Nobody teaches us what to do after a car crash when we learn to drive. If you don’t take the proper steps after the collision, you may jeopardize your chances of receiving compensation for your personal injuries.<\/p>\r\n

If your car accident lawyer can prove the other driver was negligent<\/a>, you will have a valid personal injury claim. You can sue the at-fault driver if the insurance company refuses to pay your accident claim.<\/p>\r\n

Regardless of how you pursue your claim, there’s a good chance you’ll settle your auto accident claim. Nobody wants to go to trial because they’re time-consuming and expensive. It’s often in everyone’s best interests to negotiate a fair settlement<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Here, we’ll explain the car accident settlement<\/a> process in Ohio. We’ll also discuss the timeline of most personal injury lawsuits. If you still have questions about your car accident case, contact an experienced Ohio personal injury lawyer<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Do I Need to Report a Car Accident in Ohio?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Technically, Ohio law doesn’t require you to report all accidents. But, the reporting requirements are rather strict. It’s not worth risking fines or a criminal charge for failure to report a crash.<\/p>\r\n

According to Ohio Revised Code Section \u00a7 5502.11<\/a>, you must report the accident within five days if any of the following are true:<\/p>\r\n