Personal injury
What to do in the first week after a car accident in Ohio
The days after a crash are when the most useful evidence is gathered and the most costly mistakes are made. A short guide to both.
By Miriam Castellan
Columbus, Ohio · General practice law firm
Straight answers from a lawyer you can actually reach.
Four attorneys in downtown Columbus handle injury, family, criminal, immigration, estate, business, employment and real estate matters for people across central Ohio.
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2009The year the firm opened its doors in Columbus
- Admitted to practice
- State of Ohio · U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- In practice since
- 2009
- Languages
- English · Spanish
- Office
- Downtown Columbus
Practice areas
Eight areas of law, handled from one office
Most people who call us have never hired a lawyer before. Start with the area closest to your situation. If it does not fit neatly, call anyway and we will point you the right way.
See all practice areasPersonal injury
Car and truck crashes, falls, dog bites and other injuries caused by someone else's carelessness.
Family law
Divorce, dissolution, custody, child support and protection orders, handled with care for the people involved.
Criminal defense
OVI and traffic charges, misdemeanors, felonies and record sealing in central Ohio courts.
Immigration
Family petitions, green cards, citizenship and defense in removal proceedings, in English or Spanish.
Estate planning and probate
Wills, trusts and powers of attorney, and guiding families through the probate court after a death.
Business law
Forming companies, writing and reviewing contracts, and resolving disputes for small and mid-sized businesses.
Employment law
Unpaid wages, discrimination, retaliation, dismissal and review of severance and non-compete agreements.
Real estate
Purchases and sales, title problems, landlord and tenant matters and disputes over boundaries.
Our approach
We tell you where you stand, what your choices are and what each one is likely to cost, before you decide anything.
A legal problem is rarely just a legal problem. It is a job, a home, a family or a future that has been put in question. Our work starts with listening to what happened and what you need out of it.
From there we explain the law in plain language, set out the realistic options, and let you choose. You will always know who is working on your matter and what happens next.
The firm in figures
- The year the firm opened its doors in Columbus
- 2009
- Attorneys, each admitted to practice in Ohio
- 4
- Central Ohio communities we regularly serve
- 10
- Business day, at most, before your call is returned
- 1
The process
What happens after you call
No two matters run the same way, but the first weeks follow a pattern. Here is what to expect from us.
Consultation
You speak with an attorney, in person, by phone or by video. We listen, ask questions and tell you whether this is something we can help with.
Case review
We read the documents, check the deadlines that apply and identify what is still missing. You get a written summary of what we found.
Strategy
We set out your options with the likely time and cost of each. You decide which way to go, and we confirm the plan and the fee in writing.
Representation
We handle the filings, the negotiations and the hearings. You receive a copy of everything we send or file, and regular updates in between.
Resolution
Whether the matter ends by agreement, by order or by verdict, we explain what the result means and what, if anything, you need to do next.
Attorneys
The people who will handle your matter
You will know your attorney by name, and you will have a direct line and a direct email address.
Miriam Castellan
Founding attorney
- State of Ohio, 2004
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2005
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2011
Daniel Okoro
Founding attorney
- State of Ohio, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2006
Representative matters
A few matters we have seen through
These are examples of past matters. Every case turns on its own facts and on the law that applies to it, and a past result does not predict what will happen in yours.
Personal injury · 2024
Rear-end collision on I-270
$185,000 settlement before trial
A delivery driver was struck from behind in stopped traffic and needed shoulder surgery. The insurer disputed whether the surgery was related to the crash. After the treating surgeon's testimony was taken, the claim settled two months before the trial date.
Family law · 2025
Shared parenting plan after a relocation dispute
Agreed parenting plan approved by the court
One parent planned to move to a neighboring county and the other objected. Through mediation the parents agreed on a new schedule and on who would handle school transport, and the court adopted their plan without a contested hearing.
Criminal defense · 2025
OVI charge after a late-night traffic stop
Charge amended to reckless operation
A nurse driving home from a night shift was stopped for a lane violation and charged with OVI. Video from the cruiser did not match the written report of the field tests. After a motion to suppress was filed, the prosecutor amended the charge and the client kept her driving privileges.
How we work
Six things you can hold us to
Calls returned within one business day
If you leave a message before five, you will usually hear from us the same day. You will always hear from us by the end of the next business day.
You deal with your attorney directly
The attorney you meet at the consultation is the attorney who handles your matter. You are not passed to someone you have never spoken to.
The fee is explained in writing first
Before any work begins you receive a written fee agreement that says what we charge, what costs may arise and when you would be billed.
Plain language, in English or Spanish
We explain documents before you sign them and court dates before you attend them. Consultations and updates are available in Spanish.
A copy of everything
Every letter we send and every document we file on your behalf is copied to you, so your own record of the matter is complete.
We say so when we are not the right firm
If your matter falls outside what we handle, or a different lawyer would serve you better, we tell you at the start and suggest where to turn.
Fees
How our fees work, area by area
Cost is one of the first things people want to know and one of the last things many firms explain. This is how we charge. The details for your matter are set out in a written agreement before we start.
Fee type: Contingency fee
A percentage of what is recovered, agreed in writing at the start. The first consultation is free.
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Case costs are separate from the attorney fee. They include court filing fees, charges for medical records and the cost of outside reviewers. Your fee agreement explains whether costs are deducted before or after the fee is calculated, and whether you remain responsible for them if there is no recovery.
Fee type: Hourly, with a retainer
Billed by the hour against a retainer held in trust. Uncontested dissolutions are offered at a flat fee.
Fee type: Flat fee by stage
A flat fee for each stage of the case, quoted in writing before we begin. The first consultation is free.
Fee type: Flat fee per application
A flat fee for each application or stage, quoted in writing. Government filing fees are separate.
Fee type: Flat fee for plans, hourly for probate
Planning documents at a flat fee quoted in advance. Probate administration billed by the hour.
Fee type: Flat fee or hourly
Formations and standard documents at a flat fee. Negotiations and disputes billed by the hour.
Fee type: Depends on the matter
Agreement reviews at a flat fee. Claims on an hourly or contingency basis, agreed in writing. The first consultation is free.
Fee type: Flat fee or hourly
Contract reviews, deeds and uncontested evictions at a flat fee. Disputes billed by the hour.
What the first consultation costs
The first consultation is free for personal injury, criminal defense and employment matters. For every other matter it is a flat $150 for up to one hour, credited toward your fee if you hire us.
Client reviews
What clients have said about working with us
These reviews were written by clients and are shown as they were posted. Each matter is different, and one client's experience does not predict another's.
Insights
Notes on the law, written for people who are not lawyers
Family lawDivorce or dissolution: which fits your situation?
Ohio offers two ways to end a marriage. They lead to the same place by very different roads, and choosing well can save months and a good deal of money.
By Daniel Okoro
Criminal defenseWhat happens at an arraignment, and how to prepare for one
The first court date after an arrest or a summons is short, and it is easy to get wrong. Here is what the hearing is for and what the court will ask of you.
By Daniel Okoro
Areas we serve
Columbus and the communities around it
Our office is downtown, a short walk from the Franklin County courts. We meet clients from across central Ohio in person, by phone and by video.
Franklin County
Columbus and its neighboring cities, served by the Franklin County courts downtown.
Surrounding counties
County seats to the north, east, south and west of Columbus, each with courts of its own.
Common questions
What people ask us before they call
How much does the first consultation cost?
It is free for personal injury, criminal defense and employment matters. For other matters it is a flat $150 for up to one hour, and that amount is credited toward your fee if you hire us.
Will I speak with an attorney or with staff?
Your first call is usually answered by our intake coordinator, who takes down the basics and checks for conflicts. The consultation itself is always with an attorney.
How quickly will someone get back to me?
Within one business day. If you are facing a hearing or a deadline in the next few days, say so in your message and we will move you to the front of the queue.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Bring any documents you have received, such as letters, notices, contracts, court papers, police reports or medical bills, and a short written timeline of what happened. Each practice area page lists what is most useful for that kind of matter.
Does contacting the firm make me a client?
No. An attorney-client relationship begins only when you and the firm have both signed a written fee agreement. Until then we have not agreed to act for you, and you should keep watching any deadlines that apply.
Is what I tell you at the consultation confidential?
Yes. What you tell an attorney at a consultation to seek legal advice is kept confidential, even if you do not hire us. Please do not send sensitive details through the website form or by email before we have spoken.
How are your fees set?
It depends on the kind of matter. Injury cases are usually handled on a contingency fee, many estate and immigration matters on a flat fee, and most family, business and employment matters by the hour. Whichever applies, it is set out in writing before we start.
Can you tell me how my case will turn out?
No lawyer can honestly promise a result. What we can do is tell you how the law applies to your facts, what the range of likely outcomes looks like, and what would improve or weaken your position.
Do you handle matters outside Columbus?
Yes. We regularly appear in Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield and Union counties, and we take matters elsewhere in Ohio where it makes sense for the client. We are licensed in Ohio only.
Do you offer consultations in Spanish?
Yes. Sofia Reyes speaks Spanish fluently and holds consultations in Spanish for any practice area, and our intake coordinator is bilingual.
Can we meet by phone or video instead of in person?
Yes. Most consultations can be held by phone or video, and documents can be signed electronically. Some steps, such as signing a will, need to be done in person.
What if I already have a lawyer?
You are free to seek a second opinion or to change lawyers. If you are represented, we will talk through the practical side of a change, including what happens to your file and to fees already paid, before you decide.