Columbus Uninsured Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Finding out the motorcyclist who caused your accident was uninsured can add a significant amount of stress to an already difficult situation. You may have questions about your options, who will pay for your damages, and what to do next. The Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you during this situation. A Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer from our firm can conduct a thorough examination of your case and help you fight for compensation through whatever methods are available.  We can also help motorcycle accident victims who were not carrying insurance at the time of their accidents. You have options.

For immediate answers in a free case review with our car accident team, call us today. We work for a contingency fee and only charge attorney’s fees if we win your case.

Legal Options After an Uninsured Motorcycle Accident in Columbus

It is illegal to drive a car without a valid form of financial responsibility in the state of Ohio. For many drivers, their car insurance serves as adequate proof of coverage, but according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), other acceptable forms include:

• A surety bond
• A bond secured by real estate
• A certificate for money issued by the BMV
• A certificate of self-insurance

Because auto coverage is legally required, a failure to possess one of these forms will result in your driver’s license being revoked. Despite this, the Ohio Department of Insurance states that as many as 15% of Ohio drivers break this law.

If you were the victim of a motorcycle accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance typically aids in paying the costs of your damages. But if the liable driver fails to have the required coverage, it can exacerbate your financial burdens. 

Fortunately, if you get into a motorcycle accident with an uninsured driver, there are a few options you can pursue in order to recover damages for what you’ve suffered.

File an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance Claim

In Ohio, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance is neither legally required nor automatically included in your coverage, as it depends on the driver’s insurance provider and specific plan. If this type of coverage is included in your policy, it may help cover costs such as:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damages
• Future medical expenses

Sue the At-Fault Driver Directly

When someone’s negligent conduct causes an accident, accident victims may be able to sue them for the damages they caused. But while this is an option, recovering compensation will depend on the at-fault party’s financial resources and ability to pay restitution. 

Get Compensation from Other Liable Parties

In some cases, it may be possible to hold other parties responsible for your damages and suffering. Factors other than driver error may have contributed to causing the motorcycle accident, such as:

• Faulty vehicle maintenance or repair
• Malfunctioning traffic signs or hazardous road conditions
• Defective vehicle parts

In these cases, injury victims may be able to pursue damages from service crews, local government, or manufacturing companies. 

It can be difficult to navigate the complexities of the legal field and discern your next steps when you’re still recovering from a motorcycle accident. At The Fitch Law Firm, our Columbus motorcycle accident attorneys can help you investigate the circumstances of your accident, determine who’s at fault, and fight for the compensation that you deserve. 

Reach out today for a free case review, and learn more about how our legal team can support you on your path to healing and justice.

If You Were the One Without Insurance

The Fitch Law Firm LLC also provides services to uninsured drivers who were hurt in accidents caused by others’ negligence. Even though driving with no insurance is illegal in Ohio, this does not disqualify you from your right to claim damages in a negligence-based personal injury case.

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS), you may face a fine and license suspension after being cited for driving without insurance. Otherwise, your motorcycle accident claim may proceed as normal.

Proving Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident Case

Whether you are filing an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim against your insurance company or a lawsuit against the responsible party, your ability to recover compensation may hinge on proving how negligence caused your accident. Often, negligence in a motorcycle accident comes from an operator’s violation of traffic laws, such as:

• Speeding
• Disobeying traffic control devices
• Lane splitting
• Illegal passing, lane changes, or turns

When it comes to third-party liability, other causes behind a motorcycle accident might include:

• A vehicle safety system that a mechanic neglected to properly service
• A pothole that a municipality left in the road
• A faulty or defective component, such as tires or brake rotors, that caused a crash

A Columbus uninsured motorcycle accident lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC will work to prove the responsible party’s negligence when we represent you. To do so, we can use a variety of evidence, such as:

• Footage of the accident from security cameras, traffic cameras, or dashcams
• The police report created by the responding officer
• Photos you share with us from the accident scene
• Your medical records
• Accident reconstruction experts’ opinions

Damages That May Be Available in Your Case

Depending on your injuries, what methods you have for pursuing compensation, and other factors, the recoverable damages in your case might include:

• Your past, current, and future medical bills
• Property damage costs
• The wages or salary you lost while recovering from the accident
• Pain and suffering

The Fitch Law Firm LLC will help you explore your damages and submit documentation of their value in your claim or lawsuit.

How The Fitch Law Firm Can Help

If you were involved in an uninsured motorcycle accident, you may have more options to financial recovery than you initially think. At The Fitch Law Firm, our lawyers can help you understand the complexities of such a difficult accident. We have decades of experience helping injury victims protect their rights to compensation. We know the hard work it can take to get your life back after a catastrophic injury, which is why we handle the hard legal work for you. You can depend on our team to take care of your legal needs so that you can focus on getting your life back.

To help alleviate some of your burden, our attorneys can:

• Investigate the motorcycle accident for you
• Review your insurance policies and available coverage
• Handle the uninsured and underinsured motorist claim
• Help gather police reports, cellphone records and crash evidence
• Consult accident reconstruction experts
• Identify liable parties
• Calculate your potential recoverable damages
• Pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages

If you were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, 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 and the OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. 

Call us today at (614) 739-8931 or contact us through our website for a risk-free consultation and take the first step towards securing the justice you deserve with zero out-of-pocket costs.

Your Time to Sue Is Limited Under Ohio Law

Ohio sets an important time limit to be aware of in your motorcycle accident case. Per Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, there is, in general, a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. In other words, you typically have only two years from the date of your accident to submit a lawsuit. 

While two years may seem like a long time, there is ample work to accomplish in that time. So, the sooner you get started on your case, the stronger it may be. If you try to file your lawsuit after this deadline, a judge could dismiss it, leaving you unable to recover compensation for your damages.

Because of the serious consequences of missing the statute of limitations, the Fitch Law Firm LLC urges you to call us as soon as possible after your accident. With enough notice, we can make sure your case gets filed on time and you retain your right to sue. You don’t want to miss out on your time-sensitive opportunity to recover the compensation you deserve.

Columbus Uninsured Motorcycle Accident FAQs – What You Should Know

Accidents with uninsured drivers can be particularly complex. You may have several unanswered questions regarding the claims process, what to expect from your case, and more.

We have answered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Columbus uninsured motorcycle accident claims below. If you have additional questions we did not answer on this page, be sure to reach out to our office so we can discuss your case’s details. You can also explore partnering with our team.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

Whether you have to go to court depends on your situation, including whether you can file a claim with your own insurer. Generally, we only file lawsuits if the at-fault party was uninsured or the liable insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.

If you must attend court, you don’t have to worry about managing the legal process by yourself. Our injury attorneys will take depositions, deal with the other party’s legal team, and assert your damages’ cost. You can also expect our firm to keep you updated on the claims process.

What Are Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages are occasionally awarded in personal injury cases. Typically, these losses intend to punish the at-fault party for their negligence and compel them to pay for losses outside of the usual scope of pain and suffering.

If punitive damages are an option in your case, we will fight for what you’re owed in addition to your other accident-related losses.

Should I Accept an Offer from the Insurance Company?

Before accepting any money from the insurance company, we urge you to consult with your motorcycle accident lawyer first. Here’s why:

• The insurance company’s first offer may not account for various aspects of your case.
• You would be unable to ask for more money if you accept a settlement.
• Your lawyer may be able to negotiate a better offer if the insurance company doesn’t offer what you need.
• You might not know the severity of your condition until you reach maximum medical improvement.

Your settlement should leave you with no out-of-pocket expenses. It should fully account for your past, present, and future injury-related hardships. Our lawyers don’t allow our clients to leave any money on the table; we will fight until we secure the compensation you’re entitled to.

What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Columbus?

After getting hurt, seeking medical attention should be your priority. This may include visiting your family’s doctor or visiting an emergency care center. It’s also important to follow your treatment plan, as this will show the insurance company that you did everything possible to better your condition.

Then, our accident attorneys urge you to:

• Keep all documentation related to your case
• Refrain from giving any statements online or via a recorded statement
• Allow your legal team to handle the insurance company
• Consider your legal options
• Begin your free case review now

Our Columbus motorcycle accident attorneys also ask that you write down your version of events after getting hurt. Even if you don’t remember some parts of the collision, getting your testimony could be crucial to your case’s outcome. You can write down these details either by hand or via a Word document.

Give the Fitch Law Firm LLC a Call Today

You are not alone after a motorcycle accident involving an uninsured driver. A Columbus uninsured motorcycle accident lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC can guide you through the legal process and fight for compensation on your behalf. You shouldn’t have to worry about anything besides recovering; we can manage all the legal work.

To get started, call our client intake team today. During your free consultation, we can go over your accident, the deadlines in your case, and what options you may have for pursuing compensation. We are ready to get to work for you.