The loss of a loved one in a motorcycle accident strikes at the heart of the family. A Columbus wrongful death lawyer can help by investigating the accident, proving liability, and seeking a full and fair compensation settlement or verdict.
Unexpected death brings trauma and sadness to the home, along with a sudden impact on the family finances. Establishing the facts as to how the accident happened is more easily accomplished with the assistance of legal and reconstruction experts. We cannot change what happened, but the Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers with The Fitch Law Firm LLC know from experience that recovering the compensation you and your family deserve can bring a measure of peace and allow your family the space to mourn.
How a Wrongful Death Attorney Helps Recover Compensation for You
A wrongful death attorney can file an insurance claim or a lawsuit for compensation, but either way, we must prove the cause of the accident and resulting fatality was the negligent act or inaction of another. Perhaps it was another driver who was impaired or going too fast who caused the accident that cost you your loved one.
Sometimes, the fault lies with a road maintenance crew not keeping up with repairs, or a transportation department ignoring a broken traffic light. We can investigate your accident to identify negligent parties. Investigations are unique to each case but generally follow these steps:
- Working with accident reconstruction experts, an attorney may visit the scene to take pictures, collect physical evidence, and note specifics of the area that may have affected drivers.
- Details are collected from the night of the accident, such as weather and road conditions, eyewitness statements, police and medical records, and the driving histories of those involved, including their whereabouts and actions during the 24 hours prior to the accident.
- Evidence pointing to liability and negligence is gathered, and an accounting of all of the losses you and your family suffered is compiled, all of which is used to put together a claim.
- The attorney negotiates on the family’s behalf for a fair settlement. If the claim is denied or negotiations are not productive, the attorney will file a lawsuit and represent you in a trial.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Get After Losing a Loved One?
A wrongful death attorney will help the personal representative of your loved one’s estate file a lawsuit for compensation. In Ohio, compensation for a wrongful death, such as one caused by negligence, may include such damages as:
- Medical costs sustained before death if your loved one survived the initial impact
- Funeral and burial costs
- Financial support the deceased would have provided to a child, partner, or parents had he or she lived
- Loss of future support and inheritance due to a life cut short
- Loss of relationship, care, and guidance
- Mental anguish suffered by the survivors
Motorcycle Collision Attorneys Help You Meet Legal Deadlines
Instigating a legal action means that you will be held to the various deadlines required by the system. An attorney experienced in Ohio’s wrongful death laws is aware of each deadline you must meet and will keep your case moving forward.
The first deadline you come up against is the statute of limitations on filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Ohio allows you two years from the time of death to file such a lawsuit. There are exceptions to this rule, and if any apply to your case, your attorney will discuss them with you. If your lawsuit is not filed within two years, the court could dismiss your case.
There are many rules and filings held to a calendar once the legal process starts. In Columbus, a wrongful death lawyer can help your case by anticipating and meeting the deadlines associated with your motorcycle accident case.
A Wrongful Death Lawyer Helps Identify Who Is Eligible for Compensation in a Motorcycle Accident Case
The Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02 explains who may receive compensation for a wrongful death. Those individuals usually include the spouse, parents, and children of the deceased.
Typically, a representative of the estate files the wrongful death lawsuit, but the court can appoint one if there is no will naming one.
We Will Be
There To Help
You All The Way
Motorcycle Accident Deaths in Ohio
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), motorcycle deaths in the U.S. have nearly tripled since 1997. In Ohio, the State Highway Patrol issued a safety bulletin stating that between 2018 and 2022, there were 18,980 crashes involving motorcycles, with about 5% ending in fatalities. Franklin and four other counties lead the state in motorcycle crashes.
Work With Our Columbus Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
If your loved one died in a motorcycle crash, please accept our condolences. Our Columbus lawyers can help you untangle the legal aspects of your loved one’s wrongful death due to someone else’s negligence. We offer free case consultations. Call our Columbus office or go online to schedule a visit today. We collect no fees until we successfully recover compensation for you and your family.
The Fitch Law Firm LLC has served the injured and the families of the deceased in Ohio for more than 30 years. We’re here for you and ready to apply our skills to benefit your family.