Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data cites as many as 56% of accidents involving passenger vehicles as head-on collisions. In fact, head-on collisions account for more vehicle accidents than side-impact, rear-impact, and rollover collisions combined.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a head-on collision, you may be eligible to recover immediate and long-term accident expenses from the at-fault driver. The Fitch Law Firm LLC has Columbus Car Accident Lawyers readily available to review your case in a free initial consultation and calculate the worth of your property damage and injuries.
Our mission is to represent you or a loved one who went through this horrible experience and obtain justice through monetary compensation. After you are involved in a collision, our Columbus Personal Injury Lawyers can teach you how to deal with the insurance company, help you determine if you are eligible for a personal injury settlement, and explain what factors affect your compensation.
How to Interact With the Insurance Company After a Collision
Immediately following a car accident in Columbus, Ohio, you should expect to hear from the other party’s insurance company to discuss the collision and any injuries and damage that have taken place. The conversations you have with the other party’s insurance company at this time will be crucial in determining the amount of your settlement.
Here’s what to avoid when talking to insurance or the other driver after a car accident collision:
- Never claim you are not injured. Do not tell the other motorist that you were not hurt in the vehicle accident. Soft-tissue injuries are sometimes difficult to detect right away. By claiming you are not wounded, the insurance provider for the at-fault motorist has a justification to reject your claim or make you an inadequate offer.
- Do not speculate what you think happened. An insurance adjuster will be assigned to evaluate the fault after a claim is filed. If you provide untrue or unsolicited details, you may misrepresent what actually occurred. The insurance company will always look for ways to devalue your claim, so factual honesty will protect you after a car wreck.
- Avoid taking the blame for the collision. Admitting fault is one of the most frequent post-accident mistakes. Even if you believe you are entirely at fault, mitigating circumstances can exist. Let the investigators and accident reconstructionists do their job to pinpoint liability.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a head-on collision caused by another driver, you could have the basis for a Columbus personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim for financial compensation. Keep reading to find out how liability is assigned in a head-on collision and how you can calculate and collect compensation for your car accident injuries.
Damages We Can Claim After a Head-On Collision
A head-on collision is dangerous and can even be deadly. It can result in serious injuries for you and any passengers in your car. Your injuries can lead to significant medical bills, ongoing financial expenses, and losses. Luckily, your lawyer can calculate how much your head-on collision accident may be worth by assessing your injuries and accident-related spending.
You should not have to pay these expenses or forgo necessary medical treatments. A head-on collision can result in one or more of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
Too often, accident victims make the mistake of foregoing medical treatment for life-altering and sometimes life-threatening injuries, because they are worried about the expense. However, injuries sustained in head-on collisions can be devastating, and if left untreated, they could result in permanent health conditions.
If you suffer injuries in a car accident, seek immediate medical care. The healthcare team that treats your injuries will keep a detailed record of the cause and extent of your injuries and the cost of treating them. These records can help us assign financial liability and value the portion of your claim that covers current and future medical treatment.
Non-Medical Expenses and Losses
If you or someone you love is involved in a head-on collision, the medical care you receive will form only one portion of your claim for compensation. Other financial expenses and losses we can help you recover include:
- Current lost wages
- Future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Each vehicle accident claim will have its own specific costs, which means your potential settlement award is specific to your case. Our Columbus head-on accident lawyer will review your accident and assess the value of your claim prior to beginning any settlement negotiations. Our goal is to ensure you are not left paying accident expenses out of your own pocket.
If you are unsure whether or not something is recoverable following your accident, you should discuss it with your attorney. A new mental health issue or negative experiences following your accident may not seem like proper items to add to your settlement. The fact is anything that is having a negative impact on your life and originated as a result of your accident, can be recovered.
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The Benefits of a Columbus Head-On Collisions Lawyer
The days and weeks after a head-on collision can be full of physical and mental struggles. While you miss work to recover from your injuries, you may be wondering how you are going to be able to support your family. Do not try to handle your legal battle on your own while recovering from your injuries. You need to put your health first and let experienced attorneys work for you.
When you trust your case to our personal injury lawyers, we can take the following actions on your behalf:
- Review crash reports and interview witnesses
- Calculate medical bills and lost income
- Investigate and prove the cause of the collision
- Negotiate with the at-fault driver and their insurer
- Keep you updated on the progress of your claim
In addition to representing your interests and helping you get fair compensation, we can also make sure your case complies with Ohio’s statute of limitations. Keep reading to learn about Ohio’s legal deadline to file and collect compensation for accident victims. When you are ready to start preparing your claim for compensation, our Columbus head-on collision car wreck lawyers can help.
Who Could Be Responsible for a Head-On Accident?
Head-on collisions typically occur when two drivers traveling in opposite directions collide. Often, one or both motorists will cross the center line. This often leads to a devastating collision. It may seem straightforward that the driver who crossed over the center line is responsible for your accident. However, there are numerous potentially responsible parties.
Other Drivers
It is common to want to hold the other driver accountable for a head-on collision. These accidents frequently result from human error, and an act of negligence could make the other motorist responsible for your accident.
Acts of negligence can occur in different ways. Drivers distracted by electronic devices or other objects might fail to notice they have crossed into your lane until it is too late. Fatigued motorists could also drift into oncoming traffic. You could pursue a case against the other negligent driver when one of these situations is the cause of your accident.
The Employer of the Other Driver
If the other motorist caused the collision, their employer may also be held legally accountable. Respondeat superior, or vicarious liability, is a legal doctrine that makes this possible.
According to this view, an employer is liable for a negligent act committed by one of their employees if it happens while the employee is performing their job duties. For example, if a delivery driver negligently causes a head-on collision while making a delivery, it could result in a viable case against their employer.
Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers
Defective vehicles and vehicle parts are also frequently responsible for head-on collisions. For example, defective headlights might make it impossible to see oncoming traffic. Defective braking systems could prevent a motorist from avoiding a crash.
When defective vehicles or vehicle parts are responsible for a head-on collision, the manufacturer could be to blame. These manufacturers are held to a strict liability standard, which means you could recover compensation without the need to show they were negligent in manufacturing or designing the vehicle or part.
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What if I am Partially at Fault for a Head-On Collision?
Ohio uses modified comparative negligence to govern fault in car accidents. According to state law, even if the head-on car accident is partially your fault, you may still qualify to win a settlement for medical bills, lost pay, auto repairs, and more.
It is essential to consult a head-on collision car accident lawyer in Columbus to find out if you fall within the range of eligible degrees of responsibility because there are restrictions on the extent of blame that may prevent you from receiving a settlement.
What is the Cost of a Columbus Personal Injury Attorney?
If you were injured in a head-on crash, you could pursue a civil lawsuit without any upfront legal fees. This is possible through an approach to legal billing known as a contingency fee agreement. Our firm operates on contingency, which means we only get paid if you do. You will never owe us any upfront legal fees, which means we carry the risk that comes with pursuing your case.
Do Not Run Out of Time to Seek Compensation
Hiring a lawyer to represent you in a personal injury claim for financial compensation after an accident has a number of benefits. One of the most important roles we can play is to ensure you do not inadvertently run out of time to file your claim for compensation.
According to Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10, you generally have two years from the date the accident occurs to file a personal injury lawsuit. Because the potential lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for the full range of your injury-related expenses, adhering to the timeline is important.
If you miss the timeline, you will be unable to collect compensation via a lawsuit. When you call The Fitch Law Firm, we can inform you about everything we do to prove and value your claim, including making sure it complies with Ohio’s personal injury filing deadline.
Our Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Bring a Wrongful Death Claim
If you lost a loved one in a head-on car accident, please accept our deepest sympathies. This is a time to focus on your family, and you should not be dealing with insurance companies or worrying about filing a civil lawsuit within the statutory timeframe.
According to Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02, you have two years from the date of your family member’s passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Surviving family members may be entitled to additional damages, such as your loved one’s medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and loss of support.
We can discuss this more during your free consultation. Our car accident lawyers can ensure your case is filed on time and you do not miss your chance to seek financial recovery during this difficult time.
Get Financial Recovery After a Head-On Collision
A head-on collision can cause an alarming amount of physical damage to you and your passengers. It can also cause significant damage to your vehicle. If you were injured, or if a family member was injured or killed in a head-on collision, you could have the basis of an insurance claim or lawsuit for financial compensation.
The driver who collided with your car is responsible for the financial impact of the accident. A Columbus head-on collision car accident lawyer can show you how you can receive financial compensation from the at-fault driver. Contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC today.