After a serious crash, most people feel overwhelmed by medical bills, missed work, and aggressive calls from insurance adjusters. That’s where a Toledo car accident lawyer at Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault steps in. Our attorneys take immediate action—investigating the accident, collecting evidence, and protecting you from insurance companies that try to minimize payouts. We communicate directly with adjusters, negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement, and, if necessary, take your case to trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court or Toledo Municipal Court. From day one, our focus is on building the strongest case possible so you can concentrate on healing while we fight for the compensation you deserve.
Proving Negligence After an Accident
To win a car accident case in Ohio, you must prove that the other driver was negligent. At Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault, our Toledo car accident lawyers know how to build strong cases by collecting evidence, working with experts, and applying decades of legal experience.
Under Ohio law, negligence requires proving four elements:
Duty of Care – Every driver has a responsibility to operate their vehicle safely and follow traffic laws.
Breach of Duty – The driver failed to uphold that duty, such as by texting while driving, speeding, or running a red light.
Causation – The breach directly caused the crash and resulting injuries.
Damages – The victim suffered harm, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Some forms of negligence are clear-cut, like drunk driving. Others, such as distracted driving, require a deeper investigation. Our attorneys gather police reports, witness statements, medical records, and, when needed, accident reconstruction evidence to show how negligence caused your injuries.
With more than 70 years of experience serving Lucas County and Northwest Ohio, our team has the skill and resources to hold negligent drivers accountable and fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
The moments after a car accident in Toledo can feel overwhelming, but what you do next is critical for both your health and your legal case. Your first priority should always be safety—check yourself and others for injuries and move to a secure location if possible. From there, the steps you take can protect valuable evidence, strengthen your injury claim, and make it harder for insurance companies to dispute your case. Knowing what to do immediately after a crash helps you preserve your rights and maximize potential compensation.
Contact police
While waiting for officers to arrive, gather as much information as possible from the other driver, including their name, address, phone number, insurance policy details, and vehicle information. Take photos of the vehicles, license plates, road conditions, and any visible injuries. These details, combined with the police report, will help your Toledo car accident lawyer build a stronger compensation case.
Seek medical care
Even if you feel fine after a car accident, it is critical to see a doctor right away. Many common crash injuries—such as whiplash, concussions, or internal soft-tissue damage—may not appear for hours or even days due to the body’s adrenaline response. A prompt medical evaluation not only protects your health but also creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries, which is essential for any insurance or legal claim.
In Toledo, accident victims often visit emergency departments at ProMedica Toledo Hospital or Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, as well as urgent care clinics throughout Lucas County. If your injuries are less severe, follow up with your primary care physician or a recommended specialist. Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and discharge papers—your Toledo car accident lawyer will use this documentation to support your claim for compensation.
Report the accident
After a car crash, notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Most policies require prompt reporting, and failing to do so could lead to denied coverage or other complications. Provide your insurer with the basic facts of the accident, but avoid making assumptions about fault or downplaying your injuries.
You may also be contacted by the other driver’s insurance company. Be very cautious—adjusters often look for statements they can use to reduce or deny your claim. Never give a recorded statement or sign any documents without first speaking to a Toledo car accident attorney. Our lawyers can handle all communications with insurers on your behalf, protecting your rights and ensuring that your claim is taken seriously.
What Should I Do Next to Help My Case?
After you report the accident, get medical care, and notify insurance, your next priority is protecting your legal claim. The days and weeks after a crash shape the strength of your case and the compensation you can recover. Insurance companies move fast to question injuries, downplay treatment, and look for excuses to deny payouts. By taking specific steps—following your doctor’s plan, keeping thorough records, and avoiding costly mistakes—you protect your rights, preserve key evidence, and give your Toledo car accident attorney the leverage needed to fight for full compensation.
Follow the doctor’s orders.
After a car accident, follow your doctor’s treatment plan exactly. Go to every appointment, complete physical therapy, and take medications as instructed. Even if you start to feel better, stopping treatment too soon puts both your recovery and your legal case at risk.
Insurance companies scrutinize medical records and point to any gaps in treatment as proof that your injuries aren’t serious or weren’t caused by the crash. Stay consistent with care to protect your health, build strong medical documentation, and give your Toledo car accident lawyer the evidence needed to fight for full compensation.
Obtain and preserve all documents.
Be sure to acquire all documents you may need and keep them safe. Be sure to keep adequate records of visits to the doctor, physical therapist, or mental health counselor and any expenses incurred concerning property damage, including vehicle repairs or purchasing a new automobile.
If you have not yet found a repair shop, you can check out AAA’s auto repair shops, the Better Business Bureau’s list of accredited Toledo auto repair shops, or the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence’s list of Blue Seal Shops. (Note: You may have to choose an approved repair shop; be sure to find out before repairing your vehicle.)
Also, ensure you obtain the accident report, which you can request online or in person at the Central District Station (525 N. Erie Street).
Watch what you say to insurance adjusters.
After a car accident, insurance adjusters often contact victims quickly, hoping to minimize payouts. Their goal is to get you to admit fault or downplay your injuries—even with casual remarks like “I’m fine” or “I’m sorry.” These statements can later be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Never provide a recorded statement, sign documents, or discuss settlement offers without first speaking to a Toledo car accident attorney. Our lawyers deal directly with insurance companies on behalf of clients, ensuring that adjusters cannot twist your words or pressure you into accepting less than you deserve. Protecting your rights starts with letting your attorney handle these conversations.
Stay off social media
What you post online after a car accident can destroy your injury claim. Even with private settings, insurance companies and defense lawyers find ways to review your photos, comments, and tags. A single post—such as smiling at a party or checking in at an amusement park—gives them ammunition to argue that you exaggerated your injuries or that the crash didn’t cause them.
Protect your case by avoiding posts about your accident, injuries, or daily activities until it’s resolved. Tell friends and family not to tag you in anything that could be misinterpreted. The safest move is to stay offline and let your Toledo car accident lawyer handle the evidence. Staying quiet online protects your credibility and strengthens your fight for compensation.
How a Toledo Car Accident Attorney Can Help
A Toledo car accident lawyer guides you through every step of the claims process. Our attorneys handle everything from reporting the claim to the at-fault driver’s insurance to negotiating directly with adjusters for a fair settlement. If the case requires litigation, the Toledo car accident attorneys at Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault will stand before a judge or jury at the Toledo Municipal Court and fight aggressively for your rights.
Since 1955, our firm has served injured clients in Toledo and throughout Northwest Ohio. We understand the financial and emotional toll a serious crash creates, and we use our decades of experience to help clients recover the compensation they need. When you meet with our team, you’ll sit down with an experienced Toledo auto accident lawyer who will listen to your story, explain your options, and outline the next steps so you know exactly what to expect.
Call the Best Car Accident Lawyers at 419-843-6663 to get started, or use our easy online contact form today.
If you reside in or around any of the areas we serve in Ohio and Michigan – Maumee, Defiance, Fremont, Findlay, Lima, Mansfield, Toledo, and Monroe – and are searching for an “automobile accident attorney near me,” you can count on having the best lawyer for car accidents from Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault to represent you in a personal injury or wrongful death case. With a local personal injury attorney in Toledo, Ohio, near you, help is just a phone call away.
