Columbus Hit and Run Car Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a hit-and-run car accident in the Columbus area, you should be able to collect compensation from the at-fault driver, their insurance company, or your insurance company.

Our Columbus car accident lawyers can help you identify and locate the driver who caused the collision and hold them financially responsible. Alternately, we can help identify other ways to collect compensation after an accident. Call The Fitch Law Firm LLC today for a free consultation with a legal team that has over 30 years of experience in personal injury law.

Get Help From Our Columbus Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys

If you are involved in a car accident with a hit-and-run driver, collecting compensation can be much more difficult than it is in other cases—but it is not impossible. Our Columbus personal injury lawyers can help.

Our Columbus hit-and-run car accident lawyers can make it easier for you to seek fair compensation by leading your entire case for damages. Even if criminal charges are brought against the offending driver later, you can still file a civil claim or lawsuit against them to compensate you for your losses.

How Our Columbus Hit-and-Run Law Firm Can Help Your Case

We understand that recovering from a car crash is time-consuming and stressful. There are also higher hurdles to overcome in hit-and-run cases, as injured victims usually do not have the information of the driver who hit them. After being involved in such a collision, you still have a chance at pursuing justice. We know how difficult it can be to navigate the claims process when your physical and mental energy is already being spent on recovering your health and managing financial losses that you’ve suffered due to the accident. The Fitch Law Firm has decades of experience that we can draw on to take care of the legal legwork for you.

When you become our client, The Fitch Law Firm LLC can do all of the following in your case:

• Investigate the accident and gather evidence (e.g., a police report, medical records, witness testimony) that shows what happened
• Determine if other parties can be held liable for your damages (e.g., a manufacturer whose faulty car parts contributed to the accident)
• Work with medical professionals to document injuries
• Handle uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
• Assess your damages and assign a financial amount to your case
• Manage relevant paperwork and legal communications
• Consult with expert witnesses who can explain the short- and long-term impact of your injuries
• Negotiate with an insurer for fair compensation on your behalf
• Prepare and file a lawsuit in civil court if we cannot settle your case without a trial

The Fitch Law Firm can help you secure financial recovery to assist you in receiving treatment from some of the top Columbus medical centers like, for example, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Let us handle your legal needs so that you can focus on getting your health and life back.

Recoverable Damages After a Columbus Hit-and-Run Accident

After our Columbus personal injury attorneys help you identify and locate the at-fault driver, we can also help you hold them responsible for the accident. In addition to criminal penalties for leaving the scene of an accident, the courts could compel the hit-and-run driver to cover your injury-related expenses, including:

• Current medical bills
• Future medical bills
• Current lost income
• Future lost income
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Physical disfigurement
• Physical disability

A successful personal injury claim will mean the at-fault driver or their insurance company has to cover these expenses and losses. Our Columbus hit-and-run accident lawyers can help you review your crash-related expenses and ensure your claim is not undervalued or underpaid.

Wrongful Death Damages in a Columbus Hit-and-Run Accident

If your loved one suffered fatal injuries in an auto accident that someone else caused, we are truly sorry for your loss. The Fitch Law Firm LLC wants to help you and your family get the compensation you need as you process your relative’s passing and manage their affairs.

Our Columbus wrongful death lawyers can manage your case and help you seek damages, including your loved one’s final medical expenses, funeral and burial arrangements, and lost household income. We can discuss this further during a free consultation.

The Role of Insurance in Hit-and-Run Cases

When you seek financial compensation for most motor vehicle accidents, you typically receive damages from the at-fault party’s insurance company. If they are uninsured, you have the option of suing them personally.

The situation is different with hit-and-run collisions. While you can take legal action directly against the reckless driver if we or the Columbus Division of Police can find them, locating hit-and-run drivers is not always possible. In such cases, it is important to explore other options.

Why UM/UIM Coverage Is Important in Hit-and-Run Accidents

The injury lawyers from our Columbus firm can negotiate with your insurance company for compensation if your policy contains uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage. This insurance is ideal for situations like this, as it helps victims receive financial relief in the event of an accident that an unknown person caused.

Even if the liable party in your case never comes forward, a UM/UIM policy can help pay some of the losses you suffered. Our hit-and-run car accident attorneys in the Columbus area can advise you based on your case’s specifics.

Is UM/UIM Insurance Required in Ohio?

According to Ohio Revised Code Section 3937.18, UM/UIM insurance “may, but is not required to” be included in car insurance policies sold in the state of Ohio. It is a good idea to review your insurance policy carefully—possibly with the assistance of an insurance agent or our accident injury lawyers—to see what your policy includes.

Proving to Insurance That You Were in a Hit-and-Run

Being able to recover physically and financially from a hit-and-run accident is frustrating enough, but occasionally, vehicle insurance companies make the situation much more difficult by rejecting your accident claim.

The best course of action for appealing your insurance’s decision is to follow the procedures listed below:

• Act quickly. There may be deadlines you have to work within if you want to appeal the decision.
• Keep all related invoices and receipts that relate to the hit-and-run accident.
• Use our legal team’s free consultation session to your benefit and get insight on dealing with appealing insurance denials.
• Let our legal team do all of the talking and negotiating on your behalf. Direct contact with the insurance company can put your settlement at risk.

Let Our Columbus Law Firm Tackle Your Car Accident Case

When you are ready to explore the various methods you can use to cover your financial expenses and losses, the hit-and-run experts at The Fitch Law Firm LLC are available to provide free consultations. We can even travel to see you if you are too badly injured to visit our office. Call today to get started.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Crash in Columbus

It is easy for accident victims to feel confused and overwhelmed after a hit-and-run crash. You may be uncertain about your first steps and what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your rights.

Our Columbus personal injury lawyers recommend that you take the following actions:

Prioritize your Safety

If you are able to do so, move your vehicle out of harm’s way after you’ve been hit and remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives. Do not attempt to chase or confront the fleeing driver, but try to take note of details such as their car’s make, model, and license plate. 

Even if you feel that you do not feel that you have an immediate need, consider allowing medical professionals to check you over for any injuries that may not be immediately apparent or that may worsen over time, such as a traumatic brain injury. Your health is always the highest priority.

Call Law Enforcement

Call 911 and report the collision immediately. An officer from the Columbus Division of Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, or another local authority should file a report of the accident, and this will serve as an official record that can help with your insurance claims later.

Gather Evidence

After a hit-and-run, note down and take photos of as many relevant details as possible, such as:

• What you can remember of the car’s color, make, and license plate
• The direction the fleeing car was traveling
• Names and contact information of any witnesses willing to make a statement
• Visible injuries
• Damage to your vehicle 
• Skidmarks or debris from the accident
• Any relevant traffic signs nearby
• Weather conditions

You are able to request a copy of the police report from whichever local authority arrived on scene, but you may also be able to retrieve a copy through the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s records or  find details of your accident from unofficial reports kept by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. If there are traffic cameras nearby, you may also be able to request surveillance footage from the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Speak with an Attorney

Speaking to a lawyer may be the last thing on your mind after a disorienting accident, but reaching out to an experienced personal injury attorney may relieve some of your stress. Our experienced hit-and-run accident lawyers can contact the insurance company for you, manage the legal legwork, and protect your right to fair compensation. Keep in mind that Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10 generally allows only two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit, so acting promptly protects your claim.

You can call The Fitch Law Firm today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.

Doing a Hit-and-Run Is Against the Law in Columbus

Ohio Revised Code Section 4549.02 requires anyone in a car accident to stop and exchange information with the other involved driver. The liable party must also report the accident to the police and wait at the scene until help arrives.

What Is the Penalty for a Hit-and-Run in Ohio?

That depends on how badly the victim was injured and what the at-fault party knew about the victim’s condition before leaving. At minimum, they face a driver’s license suspension, but a judge may also impose fines and jail or prison time.

How Do Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen in Columbus?

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) does not provide data about hit-and-run collisions specifically, but their overall motor vehicle accident data for Franklin County in 2022 shows that many crashes are the result of negligence, such as:

• Failure to yield
• Speeding
• Using drugs or alcohol

No matter how your accident happened, there is never a good reason to abandon an injured person. The Fitch Law Firm LLC can work with you to get you fair compensation by holding the responsible party accountable or through other means.

You Can Recover Money From a Hit-and-Run Accident – And We Can Help

When a driver hits your car and flees the scene, you might not know what to do to avoid bearing the financial brunt of an accident that was not your fault. Fortunately, there are several ways you can receive the financial compensation you deserve.

If you want help seeking recovery, our Columbus hit-and-run car accident lawyers can help you identify and locate the at-fault driver or explore other options for financial recovery. Contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC today and schedule a free case evaluation.