How a Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
After an accident, you may be dealing with more than the injury itself. You might be trying to get answers from an insurance company, keep up with expenses, or figure out who should be held responsible.
A personal injury lawyer can help you sort through these questions. At The Fitch Law Firm, the process may include investigating the accident, gathering records, dealing with insurance companies, and determining whether a settlement or lawsuit makes sense for your case.
Investigating the Accident and Establishing Liability
The first step is understanding what happened and who may be responsible. Depending on the accident, this could mean reviewing a police report, speaking with witnesses, examining photographs, or gathering other evidence.
Documenting Injuries and Financial Losses
The cost of an injury is not always clear right away. You may need follow-up appointments, physical therapy, medical, or time off work. More serious injuries can also affect your ability to return to the same job or handle everyday tasks.
Medical records, bills, pay stubs, and other documents can help show how the injury has affected you. Your lawyer can review these records and identify other losses that may be relevant to your claim.
Handling Insurance Company Communications
Insurance companies may contact you soon after an accident, sometimes before you know how serious your injuries are. You may be asked to give a statement or consider a settlement offer.
Before agreeing to anything, make sure you understand what the offer covers and whether accepting it could limit your ability to seek additional compensation. One of our lawyers can handle communications with the insurer, review the offer and explain your options.
Negotiating a Settlement or Taking a Case to Court
Not every personal injury case goes to trial. Some are resolved through settlement negotiations, while others require a lawsuit because the parties disagree about fault or the amount of compensation. A lawyer at The Fitch Law Firm can explain your options, discuss your claim’s strengths and challenges, and help you decide how to proceed.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Columbus
Accidents happen in different ways, and the legal issues can vary depending on how someone was injured. The Fitch Law Firm handles a range of personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, serious injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims.
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When dangerous conditions on someone’s property cause you serious harm, a trusted personal injury lawyer can help inform you of your legal rights and guide you through the claims process. Our attorneys have experience handling premise liability claims such as dog attacks and dangerous chemicals, and we can provide you with the legal support you need to pursue justice and financial recovery.
Columbus Workplace and Construction Injury Lawyers
Ohio workers’ compensation can provide benefits to an employee injured on the job in exchange for that employee waving their right to file a negligence lawsuit against their employer. But if a third party caused you to suffer harm, then a personal injury lawyer can still help you hold that party responsible. If the negligence of other parties such as manufacturers, suppliers, or other vendors and contractors on the job resulted in your injury, then The Fitch Law Firm can help you pursue justice and accountability.
Columbus Product Liability and Defective Product Lawyers
When dangerous or defective products like medical devices cause you significant harm, our lawyers can hold manufacturers, designers, and other at-fault parties accountable through product liability claims.
Our results, both in and out of the courtroom, have received attention from major media outlets including:
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What Compensation May Be Available After an Injury?
Compensation in a personal injury case depends on the circumstances of the incident, the nature of the injuries, the available evidence, and applicable law. Depending on the claim, recoverable damages may include both economic and non-economic losses.
Long-Term Care and Disability-Related Costs
Some injuries require ongoing assistance long after the initial treatment ends. A person may need continued rehabilitation , specialized equipment or home modifications to help with daily activities.
Medical Expenses and Future Treatment
A claim may include reasonable medical expenses associated with an injury. Depending on the evidence, it could include aspects such as, doctor visits, prescription medication, physical or occupational therapy, anticipated future medical care, among others.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity
An injury may keep you out of work temporarily or limit the type or amount of work you can perform in the future. Based on the evidence, a Columbus personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether your claim may include income lost during recovery and losses related to reduced future earning capacity.
Pain, Suffering and Other Eligible Losses
Depending on the claim, compensation may also be available for physical pain, emotional distress, disfigurement or physical impairment.
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How Ohio Personal Injury Law Works
Ohio law sets rules that may affect whether you can bring a personal injury claim, how fault is evaluated, and how long you have to take legal action. The details can vary depending on the type of cases, so it is important to have an attorney review your circumstances.
How Ohio’s Comparative Fault Rules May Affect Your Claim
Being partially responsible for an accident does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation in Ohio. However, your share of fault may reduce the amount you can recover. Under Ohio’s comparative negligence rules, a person’s recoverable damages may be reduced in proportion to their share of fault. Generally, a person cannot recover damages if their share of fault is 50% or more.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Ohio?
In Ohio, a personal injury claim is subject to a two-year statute of limitations, but the applicable deadline depends on the type of claim and circumstances. A personal injury lawyer can help you analyze your case and determine what legal options may be available. Wrongful death, medical malpractice, and claims involving minors may be subject to different deadlines or special rules. A lawyer at The Fitch Law Firm can explain which deadlines may apply to your situation.
What Evidence Can Help Support an Injury Claim?
The evidence needed depends on the circumstances, but useful records may include:
- Police or incident reports
- Photographs and videos of the accident scene or injuries
- Names and contact information of the at-fault party and witnesses
- Medical records and treatment documentation
- Communication receipts with insurance companies
What if the At-Fault Party Has No Insurance?
An uninsured at-fault party might complicate the claim, but it does not necessarily mean that no options are available.
Depending on the circumstances, potential sources of recovery may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, other applicable insurance policies, or claims against additional legally responsible parties. The available options depend on the insurance policies, the facts of the accident, and applicable law.
Our motor vehicle accident lawyers in Columbus can review the available insurance information and explain which options are worth exploring.
Relevant Case Results and Verdicts
At the Fitch Law Firm, our lawyers have handled significant personal injury matters, including sexual abuse, wrongful death, truck accidents and more.
Some of our most recognized cases are:
- $134 million dollar verdict for a sexual abuse case involving an 11-year-old child whose best friend father would drug her and other girls during sleepovers.
- $48 million dollar verdict for a witness intimidation case, where the mother of a child who was sexually abused was threatened to death by the perpetrator who was preventing her from reporting the matter to the police
- $5 million dollar verdict for a wrongful death after a 59-year-old-man was killed when a commercial freightliner fatally collided with his car.
- $2.6 million dollar verdict for medical malpractice after a pregnant woman with asthma had a steroid prescription improperly canceled by a resident in training and had to undergo an emergency c-section resulting in injuries to her and her baby.
Our Process for Your Personal Injury Case
In order for one of our accident lawyers to help you and provide more information regarding your legal options, it is necessary to follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Request a Free Consultation on our website.
- Step 2: Discuss Your Accident and Legal Options.
- During your consultation, discuss your injuries, how the accident happened and any other concerns you might have.
- Step 3: Investigate the Claim and Gather Evidence.
- If your case is suitable for us, we will begin gathering accident and medical reports, as well as pictures, witness statements and more.
- Step 4: Assess Damages and Handle Negotiations
- One of our civil attorneys from The Fitch Law Firm will evaluate your evidence of your losses, including medical expenses, lost income and other damages.
- Step 5: Pursue a Resolution or Litigation When Appropriate
- If both parties can reach an agreement, the case may be resolved through a settlement. If the case, however, cannot agree on liability or compensation, the next step may be filing a lawsuit.
The Faces of Justice: Meet our Columbus Injury Lawyers
John Fitch – Lead Attorney
A well-recognized Ohio personal injury lawyer with over thirty years of experience and the principal and founder of The Fitch Law Firm. Mr. Fitch has handled hundreds of serious injury cases, including catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases including of automobile, truck, motorcycle medical negligence, and product liability claims.
Kirstin Peterson – Attorney
Kirstin Peterson is a graduate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She received recognition as a Public Service Fellow for her public interest work while at the Moritz College of Law. She has significant experience helping those involved in motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death cases, and victims of sexual abuse.
Serving Injured People in Columbus and Nearby Communities
The Fitch Law Firm serves people in Columbus and across Ohio, including the communities that feel like they have been forgotten. Its Columbus office can be found at 621 E Town St, Columbus, OH 43215.
If you need help understanding how to file an injury claim or what the next steps of your case are, schedule a free consultation with us. At the same time, if you live outside of Columbus contact the firm to ask about representation and available consultation arrangements.
Why Choose The Fitch Law Firm as Your Personal Injury Lawyer in Columbus?
When looking for personal injury lawyers, look at their experience, types of cases they handle, and how they explain their fees. Make sure that your attorney is someone you feel comfortable asking questions about your case and they possible outcomes.
At The Fitch Law Firm we have a series of attorneys that can help you understand all the complex legal processes and that will be with you in all the steps of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should I Call a Personal Injury Lawyer in Columbus?
It is recommendable to contact an accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Early advice can help you understand your rights, preserve evidence, and identify any filing deadlines.
How Much Does a Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
At The Fitch Law Firm, we offer free consultations and handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that our fees depend on recovering compensation for the client.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Columbus?
In Ohio, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims has a two-year deadline, however, there are several exceptions when discussing cases like medical malpractice, wrongful death, and certain other cases.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault?
Yes, in some cases. Ohio follows a modified comparative fault system, which can allow you to recover damages even if you share responsibility for the accident, as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. When you are partly at fault, your recoverable compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of responsibility. If your share of fault exceeds 50%, you generally cannot recover damages.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take?
The timeline depends on the severity of your injuries, the complexity of your case, and whether it can be resolved through a settlement. Cases that proceed to court generally take longer. There is no single timeline that applies to every personal injury case.
How Do I Contact The Fitch Law Firm in Columbus?
Contact The Fitch Law Firm by phone or request a free consultation to discuss your accident and explore your legal options.
