What To Do After A Car Accident in Columbus, Ohio

Home
What To Do After A Car Accident in Columbus, Ohio

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.

Statistics on vehicle accidents in Columbus

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:

Approximately 95% of all fatal vehicle accidents happen in metropolitan settings, whereas just 5% take place in rural regions.
The majority of fatal car accidents involve drunk drivers, who are charged with “operating a vehicle while intoxicated” (OVI) in Ohio.
Around one-tenth of fatal crashes in Columbus and the rest of Franklin County involve trucks and other commercial vehicles.
In Columbus and the rest of Franklin County, motorcyclists account for between 15% and 20% of all traffic fatalities.

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

Do I Have to Report the Accident in Newark, NJ?
Does My Car Insurance Allow Me to File a Lawsuit For My Injuries?
How Do I Pay for My Medical Treatment?
Types of Car Accidents in Newark, NJ
What to Do After A Car Accident in Newark, NJ
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?

Injuries sustained most often in Ohio car accidents

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:

Cuts, bruises, and fractures
Injuries to the ligaments and tendons
Injuries to internal organs
Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
Injuries to the spinal cord

It’s not uncommon for people who’ve been in vehicle accidents to have mental and emotional distress on top of their physical injuries:

Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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.

Your wounds might not appear right away

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:

Reduction in mobility
Acute or chronic pain in the head
Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen
Painless numbness or tingling in the limbs
Vision impairment
Inability to focus, mental fogginess, or befuddlement
Experiencing excruciating discomfort in your neck or back

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.

Your car accident may include multiple companies who are responsible for your damages

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:

Auto insurance provider of the other driver

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.

Your own car insurance company

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.

Workplace of the other driver

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.

Whoever owned the car

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.

A restaurant or bar

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.

A car dealer, manufacturer, or repair shop

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.

A public institution or private contractor

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.

The role of your Columbus auto accident lawyer in proving fault

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:

Drunk driving

Impaired driving that may be caused by both alcohol and drug use

Speeding

Disobeying a stop sign or stoplight

Changing lanes in a dangerous manner

Your Columbus accident attorney knows the law and can help you determine what evidence will be used to prove the other motorist was irresponsible.

Issues typically encountered in auto insurance claims following crashes

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:

Policy limits that are inadequate

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.

Denial of liability for car accidents

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.

Failure to take into account relevant evidence

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.

Inadequate compensation offers

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.

Bad-faith practices by insurance companies

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.

What's the value of your case if you were in a car wreck?

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:

Your out-of-pocket medical costs, including co-payments and deductibles, in addition to the costs covered by health insurance.
You have lost money because of your illness or injury and are either unable to work again or have to take time off to recover. You may be eligible for future lost pay if your injury is permanent.
You’ve been through a lot, from physical discomfort to emotional distress to a lack of sleep or the inability to participate in activities or lead a normal life because of the accident.

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.

What a car accident lawyer in Columbus can do for you

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:

Find out what happened in the accident. They can investigate the incident from every angle to establish what happened and why the other driver ought to be held responsible for the outcome of the situation.
Collect testimony from eyewitnesses. Some of the strongest evidence you may present comes from witnesses who saw the events unfold firsthand. Statements that provide a clear and persuasive memory of what transpired in your accident can be obtained by your Columbus car accident lawyer.
Gather all of the required paperwork. Reports of accidents and other relevant paperwork can be obtained by your attorney. They may also help you arrange the documentation you’ll need to support your claims, such as medical bills, doctor’s notes, and pay stubs.
Take care of communications. Your attorney will be able to handle any correspondence on your behalf, both verbally and in writing. When dealing with an insurance company, this is especially crucial since the firm will try to use your own words against you.

You should put your trust in your attorney to help you receive the money you need to focus on healing.

Automobile Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions

My car had an accident in Ohio: should I call a lawyer?

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.

I was in a car accident in Ohio; how long do I have to file a claim?

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.

Get in touch with Columbus car accident lawyers

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.