Automobile collisions are terrifying and traumatic experiences for everyone involved, yet they occur regardless of intent. The wreckage of your vehicle is only the beginning of your problems; you may possibly have sustained physical harm. Then there are the financial concerns, such as who will pay to fix or replace your vehicle, or how to pay for your medical costs. Last but not least, there are legal complications to consider, such as if the at-fault party is disputing responsibility for the accident, whether they have adequate insurance, or whether they are trying to place blame on you. Do not settle your claim with the insurance company until you have spoken with a Columbus automobile accident lawyer.
Insurance firms generate annual revenues in the billions. In order to make their multi-billion dollar annual income, insurance firms pay out as little as possible. As a result, they often settle cases without fully accounting for the full extent of an injury. Our legal team will vigorously defend your rights and interests.
The potential for road mishaps in Colombus is rising along with the city’s population. Columbus, in the heart of Ohio, is by far the most populous metro area in the state. Columbus, with a population of over 900,000, is much larger than both the state capital and the next largest city in Ohio.
Most Columbus residents live in communities inside (and occasionally beyond) Interstate 270 rather than in the central business district. Those are the city’s most populous areas.
Columbus has a high accident rate because of its vast population. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, more than one in ten of the 1,046 people killed in automobile accidents in Ohio in 2020 were residents of Columbus and the neighboring districts of Franklin County. Moreover, the Ohio State Highway Patrol notes the following about Columbus and the remainder of Franklin County:
Overall, the number of fatal car accidents in Columbus and the rest of Franklin County has been increasing over the past several years.
Table of Contents
While today’s automobiles do a great job of protecting us, even the most modest of collisions can cause serious harm. Some wounds are very minor and require just a few days in the hospital, while others can take months to heal from and can cause permanent disability or death. As a result of vehicle accidents, we have dealt with situations with the following injuries:
It’s not uncommon for people who’ve been in vehicle accidents to have mental and emotional distress on top of their physical injuries:
As a result of a car crash, you may be eligible for financial compensation if you’ve experienced any of the mentioned injuries. In the aftermath of a vehicle crash, a lawyer in Columbus, Ohio may assist you to weigh your legal alternatives.
It is typical for victims of accidents to report feeling “fine” at the scene or shortly afterward, only to develop symptoms in the days that follow. If you are experiencing pain, stiffness, or soreness after an accident, regardless of whether or not you accepted medical attention at the scene, you should seek a full medical checkup. If you don’t get treatment for your injuries, they might get worse, leaving you permanently disabled. Following are examples of typical delayed symptoms:
If despite therapy, your symptoms persist or worsen, you should visit your doctor. Hear what he has to say. Speaking with a Columbus automobile accident lawyer might help you decide if you should seek compensation if you’ve been hurt in an accident.
Most people’s first thought after being hurt in an auto accident is to make a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. This might be the best course of action, but it could also be the wrong one. If the other motorist caused (or contributed to) the accident, you may be able to file a claim against their insurance.
There may be more parties responsible for your automobile accident, depending on the specifics. To get your money back, you have to take legal action against the correct corporation (or company). The following are some types of businesses that can be responsible for the damages you suffered in an automobile accident:
Most vehicle accidents are caused by careless drivers, which is why liability insurance is mandatory in the state of Ohio. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, the other driver’s insurance company will likely be involved in your case. Given the discussion that follows, it’s clear that having an experienced attorney on your side is crucial.
However, you may also have to deal with your own car insurance company if the other motorist is at fault and either does not have auto insurance or does not have enough auto insurance coverage. An uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) policy, which is not required in Ohio, allows your insurance provider to “step into the shoes” of the at-fault driver’s insurer in these scenarios.
Your claim may lie with the other driver’s employer if he or she was on the clock at the time of the accident. Employers in the state of Ohio are held “vicariously responsible” for the negligent conduct of their workers that occur within the scope of employment. Claims of this nature frequently arise after accidents involving commercial vehicles including 18-wheelers, labor trucks, delivery vans, sales vehicles, and others.
It is possible to file a claim against the car’s owner (or the owner’s insurance company) if the other driver in your accident did not own the vehicle they were driving. In the state of Ohio, “[a] vehicle owner may not allow anybody else to operate their motor vehicle without insurance,” and car owners can be held accountable for accidents caused by their cars under certain conditions.
The victims and their families of drunk driving incidents frequently have legal recourse against the establishments that served the intoxicated drivers with too much alcohol. In particular, licensed businesses in Ohio are responsible under the state’s “dram shop statute” if they provide alcohol to a patron who is either underage or visibly inebriated.
When vehicle faults lead to collisions and injuries, automakers and retailers may be held accountable. Problems like faulty brakes or airbags fall into this category. When their technicians cause injuries on the road due to carelessness, dealerships and repair shops can also be held accountable.
When road problems cause automobile accidents, the government and its contractors may be held legally responsible. This includes hazardous road construction zones and road issues like potholes and broken guardrails. If your accident was caused by a problem with a public roadway, you should seek the counsel of a lawyer experienced in handling claims against government bodies.
Proving that the other driver’s carelessness was the primary cause of the accident is usually the most difficult part of a vehicle accident lawsuit. Negligence is the lack of caution that should have been taken to avoid injuring others. Proving your case, even if it seems plain to you that the other motorist was at fault, can be significantly more difficult than you might expect.
An expert vehicle accident lawyer can investigate the scene and determine who was at fault for the collision. The following are frequent causes of carelessness in vehicle accident lawsuits:
Your Columbus accident attorney knows the law and can help you determine what evidence will be used to prove the other motorist was irresponsible.
Even with an “average” vehicle insurance claim, it might be difficult to recoup financial damages following a major automobile crash. When dealing with the aftermath of an accident, victims may face a number of challenges that call for the assistance of an attorney. In general, we help our clients with the following kinds of problems:
While drivers in Ohio are mandated by law to have liability insurance, the minimum coverage amounts are inadequate. We will investigate all possible avenues of compensation if the other driver’s insurance does not cover all of your damages.
Car insurance firms frequently dispute claims that they are responsible for damages caused by accidents. When feasible, we get right into action to prevent such rejections, and when that isn’t possible, we use the evidence at hand to persuade insurance companies to change their minds and admit culpability.
In many cases, the insurance company will flat-out ignore the evidence presented. We can help make sure you don’t get shortchanged if you’ve gathered proof of responsibility or damages that are being ignored.
When a car insurer admits fault, the settlement offer is usually meager at best. If you have any questions about how much of a settlement you should be ready to take, our attorneys are here to assist.
While there are valid insurance defense strategies, many common insurance practices go too far and constitute bad faith. When car insurance providers engage in bad-faith insurance practices, they may be held accountable for more than just the costs associated with paying out claims.
The insurance provider can make an offer to settle your claim unexpectedly and rapidly. Insurance companies typically provide settlements that are far lower than the value of your case. If you suffer damages beyond what was compensated for in the settlement, you will be out of luck for getting any more money.
How much your case is worth might be roughly estimated by a skilled accident attorney in Columbus. The following are examples of potential damages that might be factored into your settlement:
The insurance company’s voluntary payout is probably significantly below the true value of your claim. But the law requires that you be compensated for your losses. To collect the money you need to heal and start your life over after a vehicle accident in Columbus, you need to consult with a lawyer.
An attorney who specializes in personal injury law might be of assistance in ways other than court. A competent attorney can help you collect the cash you need even if your case is settled out of court. An auto accident attorney can aid your case in the following ways:
You should put your trust in your attorney to help you receive the money you need to focus on healing.
We advise anybody hurt in an auto accident in Ohio to see a local attorney. Free legal advice is available, but if you believe you have a case, you should hire a seasoned attorney.
Car accident lawsuits for personal injury or wrongful death in Ohio must be filed within two years after the accident. Therefore, you should see an attorney without delay.
We have decades of expertise assisting victims of vehicle accidents in the Columbus region, in securing the financial support they need to begin the healing process and put their lives back together. Give us a call or send us a message through our website to speak with a Columbus automobile accident attorney at no cost to you.
Table of Contents
Newark, NJ
Jersey City, NJ
Elizabeth, NJ
East Orange, NJ
Linden, NJ
New Brunswick, NJ
Mount Laurel, NJ
Sayreville, NJ
West Orange, NJ
South Plainfield, NJ
Bergenfield, NJ
Cresskill, NJ
Demarest, NJ
Rochelle Park, NJ
Hackensack, NJ
East Orange, NJ
Fort Lee, NJ
Guttenberg, NJ
Harrison, NJ
Irvington, NJ
North Bergen, NJ
Palisades Park, NJ
Paramus, NJ
Paterson, NJ
Teaneck, NJ
Tenafly, NJ
Union City, NJ
West New York, NJ