If you were rear-ended by someone, more than likely, they will be deemed at fault. Rear-end collisions are common and pose a serious threat because, most of the time, they happen while one vehicle is stopped and the other is traveling quickly. Accident victims usually lack the chance to take evasive measures to avoid the impact, which can lead to serious injury. A Columbus Car Accident Lawyer can take on the role of reconstructing your accident to ask for a higher settlement amount because, in addition to the physical trauma, your injuries can also take an overwhelming financial toll on you and your family.
If you or someone that you love has been in a serious or fatal rear-end collision, the Columbus personal injury lawyers at The Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you understand the steps involved in collecting compensation, including completing insurance paperwork and estimating the worth of your car accident payout. As you recover, our car accident lawyers in Columbus can find ways to take care of you.
Our Lawyers Can Help You Recover Money From a Rear-End Collision
The expenses of a rear-end collision start piling up from the moment of impact and can continue until you fully recover. The cost of a rear-end accident varies based on insurance, as well. Depending on the extent and severity of your injuries, your expenses can include:
- Ambulance fees
- Emergency room care
- Hospital stays
- Surgical procedures
- Assistive medical devices
- Prescription medications
- Follow-up medical care
- Current and future lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
A personal injury claim can help you recoup these costs from the driver who caused the rear-end collision that led to your injuries. Calculating future expenses like medical care and income loss can be challenging to do on your own. A Columbus rear-end collision attorney can help you calculate these expenses and assign an accurate value to your claim for compensation.
Our Columbus Rear-End Collisions Attorneys Can Help Negotiate an Insurance Settlement
Your personal injury case will likely settle out of court, like most personal injury cases, rather than going to trial. That indicates that the negligent party or their insurance provider might make you an offer of settlement to end your personal injury case. While you can manage your claim on your own, an attorney can increase the overall settlement of your case.
Since a settlement offer is final, you should avoid accepting the first settlement amount offered by the insurance company. We can assist you by assessing your insurance claim and considering past and present financial losses.
Our firm can assess your future earning potential as it has been affected by your injuries, as well as any house modifications required to accommodate your treatment and even mileage incurred for therapy. To ensure you are covered, we carefully review your accident-related expenses and put forth a lot of effort to assign an accurate value to your claim.
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File Your Rear-End Collision Accident Claim Before Ohio’s Deadline Expires
A rear-end collision is a stressful event that can leave you with physical and emotional trauma. Its impact can be long-lasting and can involve a significant recovery time. While you cope with your injuries, the time to take action starts ticking away due to Ohio’s statute of limitations. In the meantime, you have to prepare, prove, and file a case for your rear-end accident in Columbus.
According to Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, you generally have as little as two years from the date of your injuries to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Failure to file your lawsuit within the allotted time could mean you give up the right to ever file suit. With the help of a rear-end collision auto accident attorney, you could avoid paying accident costs out of your own pocket.
The auto wreck accident lawyers at our firm in Columbus, OH, can explain the complexities and exceptions of the state’s deadline and the role it plays in filing your claim and ensure you fully comply with it.
Required Documents Needed to Prove Your Car Accident Claim
In order to file an accident claim and file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, proof that shows the extent of your injuries and the damage you sustained as a result of the accident will be required. Most claims won’t go to trial, but in order to be awarded financial compensation, your lawyer will request:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Witness statements
- Vehicle repair estimates
- Employment records
The lawyer representing you may request any or all of these documents, along with insurance forms and paperwork. Obtain copies of these and any other relevant documents for your personal files and copies for your lawyer.
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Wrongful Death in Ohio Rear-End Collisions
Being involved in a rear-end collision can leave you with injuries that range from whiplash to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to broken limbs. Rear-end collisions can also lead to the loss of life for many passenger car occupants. According to a report presented by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 835 passenger occupants, 157 truck occupants, and 302 SUV occupants were fatally involved in a rear-end collision in 2020.
For families facing the unimaginable experience of losing someone due to a rear-end car accident, our auto collision lawyers are here to take your case on while you focus on navigating this hard time. We understand that money is your least important focus, but you deserve financial recompense to cover your loved one’s medical, funeral, and burial costs.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02, certain family members or the estate of the deceased are eligible for a settlement. A Columbus rear-end collision accident lawyer can oversee your wrongful death suit so that you don’t have to relive the details of the car accident but can have financial peace.
Which Driver Is Responsible for Rear-End Car Accidents?
While there are many possible reasons for a rear-end accident in Columbus, there are a few common causes. According to a study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 47% of rear-end collisions were caused by the rear driver’s failure to brake, generally because of a distraction.
Distracted driving was found to reduce reaction time by a significant 600 milliseconds. About 64% of drivers had their eyes off the road for two or more seconds. The reduced reaction time may mean high-speed collisions and more severe injuries.
Other common causes of rear-end collisions include:
- Inadequate following distance
- Aggressive driving, like brake-checking or tailgating
- Speeding
- Exhaustion
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
However, there are some instances in which the rear driver may not be held liable for the rear-end collision, such as:
- Highway pileups
- Abrupt and unsafe lane changes or stops by the driver in front
- If the lead driver’s car broke down and no warning lights were on
- If the lead driver was driving under the influence
After we help you identify and locate the at-fault driver, we can also help you hold them responsible for the accident. In addition to criminal penalties for leaving the scene of an accident, the courts could also compel the at-fault driver to cover your injury-related expenses. This comprehensive approach ensures you’re not left bearing the financial burden of an accident you didn’t cause. Our Columbus Personal Injury Lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case, assess the full extent of your damages, and pursue fair compensation.
Rear-End Collision Injuries Greatly Your Impact Settlement Amount
Victims of rear-end collisions are more likely to suffer head and spinal injuries. Violent motion often associated with rear-end impact frequently causes concussions and whiplash. Despite being relatively simple to treat, some injuries have long-term health effects and cost money to manage. The severity of your injuries determines the size of your settlement.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries when another vehicle ran into the back of your car, you could be entitled to a monetary award from the at-fault driver. Rear-end accident victims can suffer from
- Fractures or broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries, muscle sprains, and strains
- Bruising
- Internal bleeding
Medical care is not cheap, and we can fight for your accident expenses to be fully covered. Our skilled rear-end car collision accident attorneys in Columbus, OH, can tell you how much your auto settlement may be worth once a doctor has given you a proper diagnosis.
Our Columbus Rear-End Collisions Team Is Here for You
After a rear-end collision, you deserve to focus on your physical recovery, not hassle with the legal process. When you leave your case in our firm’s hands, we promise to give it the attention to detail that it deserves. This means we will never apply a one-size-fits-all approach to your case. Instead, we individualize a legal strategy to suit your unique circumstances.
We will also make it a point to be available to you throughout every step of the process. You won’t have to hunt your attorney down to get updates on your case; we will give you direct contact information so that you can stay abreast of what’s going on at every turn.
This is the kind of client-focused care we provide to all of our clients, and we want to put our resources to work for you now.
Seek Compensation With a Rear-End Car Accident Attorney in Columbus
Our team of rear-end collision car accident lawyers in Columbus, OH, has a reputation for securing financial compensation for victims who deserve it. The Fitch Law Firm LLC will diligently pursue each legal alternative that suits your interests.
A personal injury lawsuit could compel the at-fault driver and their insurance provider to cover all the costs of the rear-end collision, from property damage to emotional distress. Call us to find out how a Columbus rear-end collisions car accident lawyer can help you quantify your losses and get you paid.