Whether you are driving on a busy highway like I-75 or through downtown Toledo, accidents can happen unexpectedly because of negligence or misconduct behind the wheel. Every year in Ohio, car accidents are a leading cause of personal injuries and one of the most common causes of accidental deaths nationwide. A Toledo fatal car accident lawyer can help if you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by another driver.

The Gervelis Law Firm can provide compassionate legal counsel after a family member’s death in a car accident. Founding partner Mark Gervelis is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer with decades of experience handling a wide range of injury claims in Toledo and surrounding communities of Lucas County. Our team is confident we can help you prove liability for the accident and hold the at-fault driver accountable for the fatal results of their negligence or misconduct.
You are likely to have many difficult legal questions in the aftermath of your family member’s fatal crash. You will need to hire a fatal car accident lawyer you can trust to gather the evidence needed to establish fault for the accident. While your family may be eligible to claim some compensation through auto insurance, a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver is likely to be your primary avenue of recovery after this tragic loss.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 41 fatal crashes in Lucas County in 2025. These accidents can happen unexpectedly in various ways, and some of the most commonly cited contributing factors for fatal car accidents nationwide include intoxicated driving, distracted driving, and speeding.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding has consistently contributed to about one-third of all traffic accident deaths nationwide every year for more than 20 years. In 2024, speeding was cited as a contributing factor in 29% of all vehicle accident deaths throughout the US.
Your Toledo fatal car accident attorney can gather the evidence needed to prove liability for your family member’s death. Some of this evidence won’t be available for very long. For example, vehicle computer data may show that the at-fault driver was speeding just before impact, but this data could be legally overwritten when they take their vehicle to a mechanic for repairs. Your attorney can send all necessary demand letters for preservation of evidence.
In some car accident cases, fault is disputed. Ohio enforces a modified comparative negligence law that comes into play in any case in which multiple parties share fault for the damages cited in the claim. The driver who caused your family member’s death may claim the victim contributed to causing the accident in some way, and your attorney can examine the evidence to resolve any such liability disputes that arise in your fatal car accident claim.
A personal injury claim can help an injured victim recover compensation for their damages from the party responsible for causing their injury, but a wrongful death claim can be filed by the victim’s family when the injury is fatal. After a family member’s fatal car accident in Toledo, you and your family may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim in place of the personal injury case the victim could have filed if they had survived.
In Ohio, a wrongful death claim must be brought by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. Any proceeds obtained from a successful wrongful death claim are strictly reserved for the victim’s surviving spouse, children, and other beneficiaries. The plaintiff filing the wrongful death case has the right to pursue compensation for various economic and non-economic damages on behalf of the victim’s surviving family.
Your Toledo fatal car accident lawyer at Gervelis Law Firm can help you and your family navigate wrongful death claim proceedings, and we may be able to recover compensation for lost financial support the victim can no longer provide, compensation for you and your loved ones’ pain and suffering, and repayment of funeral and burial expenses.
If the victim did not die immediately from their injuries, it is also possible for your family to file a survival action in tandem with your wrongful death claim. This action is distinct from the wrongful death claim and seeks compensation for damages to the victim’s estate, the cost of their final medical treatment, and the pain and suffering they experienced up until their death.
Contact Gervelis Law Firm to discuss your case with a trusted Ohio
with a trusted Ohio personal injury attorney.
The unexpected death of a loved one is never an easy thing to experience, especially when you learn that their death was the result of another party’s recklessness, negligence, or misconduct. There is a great deal at stake in a fatal car accident claim, and you may contend with the at-fault driver, their insurance carrier, and their attorney as they attempt to shift blame for the fatal accident and avoid paying compensation.
When you hire a fatal car accident lawyer at Gervelis Law Firm, you will be supported by decades of proven experience handling Ohio car accident cases. Our firm is confident that we can not only help you and your family establish liability for the fatal accident in question, but also secure as much compensation as state law allows for your damages.
Some wrongful death cases filed in Ohio are resolved privately through settlement negotiations. While this is generally much faster than litigation, it is not always a viable option for handling these cases. Litigation may be necessary, and you can rely on the team at Gervelis Law Firm to guide you through any courtroom proceedings necessary to secure accountability and compensation for your family’s tragic loss.
It costs you nothing upfront to hire our firm; we accept these cases on a contingency fee basis, so we only charge a fee after we successfully recover compensation for you. It also costs you nothing to speak with our team about your case. Contact us today and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Toledo fatal car accident lawyer you can trust.