Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Columbus

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Columbus, OH, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and related expenses. Our experienced Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers can help you evaluate your case and guide you through the process of filing a motorcycle accident injury claim in Ohio. 

Contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC today for a free case consultation with a member of our legal team and learn how our personal injury lawyers in Columbus can help you pursue maximum compensation for your losses.

Meet Attorney John Fitch, Your Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus from The Fitch Law Firm LLC, our entire team can help you start the process of fighting for the compensation you need and deserve from the liable party. Check out our video above, where Attorney John Fitch answers some common questions about motorcycle accidents. 

What Damages Can You Recover Following a Motorcycle Accident in Columbus?

If you are a motorcycle accident victim, you may be entitled to recover compensation for a variety of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can directly compensate you for financial losses. Non-economic damages are compensation for the suffering you endured and losses to your way of life.

Examples of the types of damages you could qualify for include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Loss of Quality of Life: You can no longer perform certain tasks (e.g., a sport or getting dressed) that you used to. Perhaps you need another person’s help to get through the day.
• Any Type of Disability: If the accident caused or worsened a physical or intellectual disability, you could collect damages. This is true even if the disability is only temporary.
• Pain and Suffering: This loss may include both physical pain and emotional distress stemming from either the injuries suffered or the accident itself.
• Lost Income: If you missed work due to recovering from the accident, you may demand compensation for this drop in your income.
• Loss of Future Earning Potential: If a permanent disability prevents you from working as much as you used to, you could seek compensation for these future lost wages.
• Property Damage: The most common example of property damage includes motorcycle replacement or repairs. However, this could also include any damaged personal effects on you at the time of the accident. 
• Medical Bills: You may seek compensation for the medical expenses you incurred, such as hospitalizations, surgeries, prescription drugs, mobility equipment, and doctor’s visits. You may even seek compensation for transportation. 
• Ongoing Healthcare: This damage may include rehabilitative therapy, nursing and domestic support, and possibly home modifications.

The team from The Fitch Law Firm LLC believes personal injury victims should not bear the financial burden of injuries caused by someone else. Let us help you pursue fair compensation so that you have one less thing to worry about as you recover.

What About Wrongful Death Damages?

According to an Ohio State Highway Patrol OSTATS report, 953 motorcyclists have been killed on Ohio roads between 2018 and 2022. Additionally, there were 5,296 riders who suffered serious injuries in the same period. The report mentions further that this has been an increasing trend.

Additional damages may be available to those who lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident. In this case, you could file a wrongful death suit and seek such damages as the following: 

• Final medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of guidance
• Loss of consortium

One of our wrongful death lawyers in Columbus can provide you with the compassionate yet professional service your family needs to get through this difficult time.

Pursuing Legal Action After a Motorcycle Accident in Columbus, Ohio

We believe that motorcycle accident victims deserve the chance to recuperate in peace without worrying about many cumbersome, challenging legal tasks. The Fitch Law Firm LLC can ease your legal burden and fight hard to protect your interests by:

• Evaluating Your Case for Free: At no cost or obligation to prospective clients, our team is always happy to provide callers with free case consultations and explain to them how we can help.
• Building a Case: A motorcycle accident lawyer from our Columbus office can investigate the accident and collect evidence to strengthen your personal injury claim.
• Identifying and Notifying Liable Parties:Through our research, we can identify who is financially liable for your injuries and tell them that you are suing for damages.
• Negotiating a Settlement: A pretrial settlement is usually a faster way to get money than a trial. We can meet with the liable party’s insurance company and try to persuade them to pay what you need.
• Preparing for Court: If a trial is unavoidable, we can make all the necessary preparations and even present your case before a judge and jury.

Throughout the legal process, we will be by your side. You can reach us at any time if you have questions or concerns, and we will provide you with constant updates on your case. 

Who is Liable for Your Motorcycle Accident?

When filing a lawsuit, it matters less what caused the accident than whether or not you have proof that someone else’s negligence was to blame. First, negligence is established in four parts. They are: 

• Duty of Care: This part is the legal, ethical, and moral obligation every driver shares while operating their vehicle on the road. It is the responsibility to ensure the safety of others. 
• Breach of Duty: When a driver deviates from their responsibilities, they have breached their duty of care. This action or inaction can take many forms, but ultimately, it leads to the next part. 
• Causation: This is the accident that their actions cause, and in turn, the injuries you suffered. 
• Damages: Your injuries have a value attached to them. Whether you suffer physical injuries, financial burdens, or emotional trauma, you deserve compensation for the losses you have experienced.  

To prove that the other driver’s negligence led to your injuries, we must investigate the motorcycle accident and collect evidence. Your evidence may include such things as the following:

• Police report
• First responder reports
• Medical records
• Photographs of the accident scene 
• Videos from traffic cams and CCTV
• Eyewitness and expert testimonies
• Physical evidence

Depending on the details of your case, we may discover that one or more parties may be responsible for your injuries. Some common parties who may be liable include:

• Another Motorist: The driver of the vehicle that collided with your motorcycle or caused the accident in some other way can be held responsible for your injuries.
• The Motorcycle Manufacturer: The manufacturer may be held liable if a defective part caused your accident. Under some circumstances, the case could become a class action lawsuit if the manufacturer has faced similar lawsuits from other riders.
• A Mechanic: The mechanic or company entrusted with maintaining your bike may be held liable for your injuries and property damage if they provided negligent service.

From the evidence we collect, we can determine your damages and build your claim. 

The Statute of Limitations for Pursuing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit

Generally speaking, as stated in Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, motorcycle accident victims have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit with either the Franklin County, Fairfield County, or Delaware County courthouse, depending on where the accident took place in Columbus. This is the general rule, though there are exceptions. The sooner you contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC, the sooner we can go to work to defend your rights against all negligent parties.

While the statute of limitations sets a general deadline for filing a lawsuit, there are exceptions that could allow you to file outside the standard time frame. Depending on the specifics of your case, you could still qualify to submit a lawsuit to the court years after the statute of limitations has run out.

Alternatively, you could find that an exception puts further limits on the amount of time you have to file. The best way to protect yourself against an unexpected deadline is by hiring an attorney shortly after your crash. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus will be able to identify if special circumstances restrict your ability to file a lawsuit.

The Cost of Hiring a Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When you are pursuing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, legal assistance from an experienced professional can be an incredible asset. Unfortunately, many accident victims fail to secure the money they need simply because they are afraid that they will not be able to pay for an attorney’s services.

However, the truth is that motorcycle accident attorneys work differently from other lawyers. Rather than charging a large retainer fee and a high hourly rate, these lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they collect a single fee for their services upon the conclusion of a successful case. 

This fee is directly tied to the compensation you receive from the liable party. Your lawyer will collect their attorney’s fees as a preapproved percentage of what you recover. This payment method ensures that your attorney will be motivated to get you as much money for your damages as possible. Failure to secure compensation on your behalf means your lawyer doesn’t get paid.

What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?

There are many natural conditions or negligent actions and inactions that may lead to motorcycle accidents, including:

• Distracted Driving: Inattentiveness by motorists can easily lead to a motorcycle accident. All a driver has to do is take their eyes off the road for a moment to cause a potentially serious crash.
• Head-On Collisions: Head-on collisions may occur if a motorist turns in the path of a motorcycle or if the driver runs a red light and fails to yield the right of way.
• Road Conditions: Poor road conditions caused by ice, rain, loose gravel or debris, potholes, road construction, and poorly maintained roads may cause a motorcyclist to lose control and crash.
• Drunk Drivers: A driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol may fail to see a motorcyclist or have a delayed response to an impending collision.
• Left Turns at an Intersection: If a motorist turns left at an intersection and fails to register an oncoming motorcycle, an accident may occur. Motorcyclists may be in special danger in such situations, as they are smaller and often less visible than passenger vehicles.
• Defective Equipment:If a defective part, such as a damaged tire or unresponsive brakes, contributed to the accident, then you may have a product liability case.

Our investigation will identify the cause and liable party to your accident.

Common Questions Regarding Motorcycle Accident Cases

The questions below are some of the most common we receive from motorcycle accident victims. Hopefully, these answers will address any concerns you may have and know that you can reach out to us at any time: 

What is the Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement?

We understand the financial strain victims are under, but every accident is different and unique, so your settlement should compensate you for all the losses you have suffered. It should not be based on a national average. 

Should I Get a Lawyer for My Motorcycle Accident in Columbus?

We recommend discussing your case with a member of our legal team. The consultation is always free, so there is no financial risk for talking with us about it. From there, you can decide if you would like to hire us to manage your case. 

I Know What to Do After the Accident. Is there Anything I Shouldn’t Do? 

For one thing, don’t admit fault. Anything you say could be used against you. This includes social media. For the time being, it would be best to stay off social media. 

For another, follow through on your doctor’s treatment plan. Keep your appointments and complete your rehabilitation. Your health is important, but any deviation could also be used against you. 

Let Our Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help You Fight for Compensation

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, it may be in your best interest to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus from our law office. Call The Fitch Law Firm LLC or fill out our online contact form to discuss your case and receive legal advice on moving forward. We are proud to serve Columbus, Ohio, and other cities throughout the state.