Car accidents can happen in a variety of ways, including single-car, two-car, hit-and-run, or multi-vehicle accidents. The types of car accidents Columbus car accident lawyers handle are those caused by the negligent action of another person or entity. A legal team can pursue the at-fault driver, a car manufacturer, or a repair shop if their action or failure to take the required action caused the collision.
If you or someone you love was injured in a negligence-based car accident, a Columbus car accident lawyer will represent you. They will explain Ohio’s personal injury and insurance laws and how they affect your case. An auto accident lawyer can also calculate your recoverable damages and explain the applicable filing deadline. They can even help you obtain compensation from your own insurance company after a hit-and-run accident.
Common Types of Car Accidents That Occur in Columbus, OH
Cars can collide in a wide variety of ways and have a variety of causes. Where and how the accident occurred will affect the types of injuries you suffer and the type of damage to your car. The types of accidents a local auto accident attorney will handle can include:
- Single-car accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Side-impact collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
Most law firms will consult with you about your accident at no cost or obligation. A team member will listen to your version of events, gleaning important details about its cause. They will also explain their strategy for recovering damages.
How a Car Accident Attorney Proves the At-Fault Driver Was Negligent
Negligence in a car accident case is the criterion that entitles you to compensation, and these are the types of cases a Columbus personal injury lawyer will handle. To prove negligence, your lawyer will document its legal elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Your lawyer will prove these elements with evidence, such as your car accident report. It will contain a wealth of valuable and objective evidence and data. Similarly, your lawyer will locate and interview witnesses who can provide objective observations from a variety of vantage points.
Is It Worth It to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Columbus?
Resolving your car accident case could mean a myriad of conversations and correspondence—verbal, written, and virtual—with the at-fault party’s insurance company and their adjuster. If a lawyer represents you, they will handle all communication for you in addition to taking the following actions on your behalf:
- Assess the financial value of your case
- Consult with expert witnesses, such as accident reconstructionists
- Complete and submit insurance claim forms
- Document the at-fault party’s negligence
- Identify and interview lay and expert witnesses
- Prove there could be multiple liable parties
- Provide ongoing updates as your case develops
- Search for supporting photos and video footage
Your lawyer will also handle the negotiation process for you, including fielding monetary offers and weighing their pros and cons. The final settlement decision is yours, and your lawyer will help you make a well-informed one.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
In most cases, a lawyer in Columbus will represent you on a contingency fee basis, meaning it will cost you nothing upfront to hire them. In fact, their fee will not come out of your pocket at all. Instead, they will deduct a percentage of any financial award you receive as their fee.
Your law firm will cover every out-of-pocket expense related to preparing your case. If you do not receive a financial award, you will owe no legal or attorney’s fees at all. That makes hiring a car accident lawyer risk-free. Doing so also means you do not have to deal with the insurance company at all. In fact, hiring a lawyer means you can focus on getting better while they focus on your case.
Compensation a Car Accident Lawyer Can Pursue on Your Behalf
Every car accident case and client is different with a unique set of recoverable damages, so your potential compensation and its amount will vary as well. In general, your lawyer will request the following types of damages:
- Current and future lost income and earning ability
- Disfiguring injuries and lingering disabilities
- Medical care, rehabilitation, and therapy expenses
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Repair or replacement costs for your car
- Wrongful death damages for fatal car accidents, such as loss of companionship and funeral expenses
Your lawyer will collect the documents that prove the value of your compensation request and send a demand letter on your behalf. They will also negotiate the best possible monetary settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Waiting Too Long to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Can Put Your Case at Risk
After a car accident in Columbus, you will have a limited time to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. You could generally have as little as two years to file based on the accident’s outcome. Accordingly:
- The personal injury lawsuit, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10
- The wrongful death lawsuit, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02
If you do not file your lawsuit on time, the court will refuse to allow you to file it at all or refuse to hear its merits. Either of these outcomes could mean you have no legal recourse to compel compensation. The insurance company will stop negotiating, and you will have to bear the accident’s financial consequences.
A personal injury attorney can help you understand the filing deadline, explain any exceptions that apply to your case, and explain the steps they take to file your lawsuit on time. A crash attorney can also work to streamline the legal process as much as possible.
Call 24/7 for Your Free Car Accident Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in a recent car accident, our law firm will help you build a strong case for financial compensation. You do not have to take on the auto insurer and the responsible parties on your own. During this difficult time, you deserve to focus on your health.
Find out what types of car accidents our Columbus car accident lawyers handle and how hard we go to bat for you. Contact one of our consultation team members at The Fitch Law Firm LLC to get started on your free initial consultation.