Columbus Side-Impact Collisions Accident Lawyer

Side-impact collisions can refer to several types of accidents, from sideswipes to T-bone crashes. While the severity of these collisions can vary based on the circumstances, the victims often experience financial consequences and injuries. If you face such consequences after another driver hits your vehicle, you can count on a Columbus Car Accident Lawyer from The Fitch Law Firm to support you.

How to Maximize the Value of  Your Columbus, Ohio Car Accident Claim

Filing a car accident claim can be a frustrating process, especially if you are looking to settle a car accident claim without a Columbus injury lawyer. No matter how you plan to pursue legal action after a wreck, the following legal tips are highly recommended when navigating the car accident claim process:

Get a Medical Diagnosis on Your Condition

Immediately after any type of car wreck, it is critical that you avoid admitting that you are not hurt and instead visit a doctor. The shock from an accident has the ability to delay symptoms of an injury, but medical testing will reveal if you have internal bleeding, broken bones, brain or head trauma, or any condition that requires further treatment.

Going to the doctor after a car accident should be a top priority because the costs of your recovery will form the basis of your car accident compensation.

Prioritize Recordkeeping

It is easier to verify the specifics of your claim and demonstrate liability if you keep all medical records, statements, contact information from other drivers or witnesses, and photos of the accident scene.

Another way to counter the insurance company’s attempts to misrepresent the facts and minimize the value of your claim is to request a copy of the police report.

Take Advantage of a Free Consultation

If you don’t take advantage of a free consultation with one of our lawyers, you increase your chances of the insurance company taking advantage of you. It is no secret that the goal of an insurance agency is to limit your compensation. However, a reputable Columbus car accident lawyer will fight hard to maximize your compensation payout.

Our attorneys are experts in the practice of personal injury law and take the time to investigate the accident, preserve any evidence, contact witnesses, and more. In the first consultation, you can find out how much your side-impact collision is worth.

Determining Liability in a Side-Impact Collision

Since side-impact collisions encompass multiple types of accidents, who is liable in your case will depend on the unique circumstances that led to the accident.

Driver negligence is a common cause of traffic collisions, including side-impact accidents. Examples of scenarios in which another driver may have been responsible for your injuries include:

• Running a red light and T-boned your vehicle due to distraction or speeding
• Pulling out in front of you to make a turn as you were lawfully entering an intersection
• Not using their signal and ensuring they had enough room to enter your lane safely before merging
• Failing to maintain their lane and sideswiping your vehicle

If one of these or a similar act of negligence behind the wheel led to your collision, you might have a case for damages against the negligent driver. Pursuing an auto liability claim or lawsuit with the help of a Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer may help you recover compensation for economic and non-economic losses.

Types of Driver Negligence Responsible for Side-Swipe Accidents

The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that side-impact collisions involving numerous vehicles were one of the three leading factors in fatal auto accidents in 2020. When an accident is reconstructed to prove liability, the types of driver negligence commonly include:

• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving while tired
• Speeding
• Driving too fast for weather conditions
• Broken or poorly maintained vehicle components
• Defective vehicle parts

Remember that the insurance company’s purpose is to lower your payout. Therefore, they will make every effort to deny your claim and minimize the policyholder’s responsibility. Having a Columbus side-impact car accident attorney who is skilled in preserving evidence, analyzing an accident scene, and calculating your loss can positively impact your case.

When Multiple Parties are Responsible for an Accident

While the other driver is frequently at fault in side-impact crashes, other parties are occasionally to blame. For instance, if someone sideswiped you as a result of a faulty brake part, you might be able to seek compensation from the manufacturer for the faulty part.

Similarly, if improper maintenance and repairs were not made to a company-owned vehicle that was the cause of a side-impact collision, the firm might be held accountable. Those who could be held accountable in a side-impact collision are:

• The driver of the vehicle
• A third party involved in the accident
• Manufacturer of defective parts
• Repair or maintenance company if their negligence resulted in part failure
• A business that owns a commercial vehicle involved in the collision
• Businesses whose policies prevent drivers from operating safely

Some commercial vehicle operations set time limits or delivery quotas that force the drivers to speed, drive recklessly, or operate without sufficient rest. If these policies result in a collision, you may be able to sue the company whose policies resulted in the driver’s unsafe conduct.

A Columbus side-impact collision car accident attorney will be able to help you determine the fault of all parties involved in your collision. By casting the net further, they may be able to obtain a higher settlement amount than they could from the driver alone.

Side-Impact Collisions Can Cause a Variety of Recoverable Damages

When you get into a traffic accident, it can cause you to suffer damages on multiple levels. While minor collisions may leave you only with property damage, more severe incidents can have lasting effects on your physical and mental health, finances, and family.

Injuries you may suffer in a side-impact collision include:

• Neck and back injuries
• Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
• Internal and organ injuries
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Strains, sprains, and soft tissue damage
• Head and face injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal damage or paralysis
• Limb amputation

Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, you should consider seeking medical attention as soon as possible, either with paramedics or a visit to the emergency room. The adrenaline from the accident can mask your injuries, and you may not feel them for days or even weeks after the accident.

Visit a doctor for an evaluation any time you feel pain from your injuries, even if it is weeks or months later. Not only will your doctor treat your injuries, but they will also create the documentation you need to support your personal injury claim.

Ohio law gives you the right to seek compensation for the damages you face, whether by filing a claim under the responsible driver’s at-fault insurance policy or naming them in a personal injury lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to recover damages for medical bills, property damage, income loss, and pain and suffering, as outlined below.

Medical Bills

T-bone collisions are some of the most serious traffic accidents, often resulting in catastrophic injuries. Yet even a seemingly minor injury from a side-impact crash, such as whiplash, can leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Our Columbus side-impact collision lawyer from our firm will be sure to compile your medical records and include all treatment-related expenses in your claim. Call our staff today to begin a complimentary review of your case.

Property Damage

Due to the speed and force that often play a role in side-impact collisions, these accidents can easily lead to a totaled vehicle. If you are facing mounting repair bills or need to replace your car entirely, we can also include these costs in your claim or lawsuit.

Lost Income

Your household’s income can be quickly impacted if you suffer injuries that render you incapacitated for any length of time. For any given time frame, you might not be able to work or may sustain a handicap that keeps you from resuming your pre-collision duties.

As a result, your recoverable compensation may comprise both missing pay and a decreased earning potential.

Pain and Suffering

Non-economic damages, such as general suffering and mental agony, might have an equal influence on your daily life. Our staff will calculate the pain and suffering in your settlement request if there is proof to support it.

Using comprehensive documentation and financial analysis from economic experts, we will establish the amount the accident could cost you over the long term so that you never pay for any accident-related expenses. A Columbus side-impact collision attorney from our firm can examine your claim to determine the full value of your monetary and non-monetary losses.

Why Choose Our Law Firm

Our side-impact collision car accident lawyers have spent over 30 years advocating for victims of side-impact collisions and other traffic accidents in and around Columbus, OH. With our proactive approach to personal injury law, we seek to secure compensation for each of our clients to support their physical and financial recovery.

We believe that victims of negligence should not have to shoulder the bill for another driver’s reckless or careless behavior. We know how overwhelming the process of initiating a liability claim or lawsuit can be. Allow us to take the necessary steps for you, including:

• Reaching out to law enforcement and witnesses for information about the collision
• Communicating with the insurance companies and legal teams of the other parties, such as during settlement negotiations
• Compiling evidence into a strong case for compensation
• Evaluating the damages you have faced and will continue to face to arrive at a reasonable case value
• Addressing any questions that arise about your case and keeping you updated as we proceed through the process

We will also be sure to adhere to Ohio’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases (Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10), which generally restricts our filing window to within two years of the collision. However, every case is different, and the time frame can vary depending on your specific situation. It is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.

Our Accident Lawyers Work on Contingency

Our attorneys are compassionate when it comes to advocating for our injured clients. After a side-impact car accident, you should not be stressed financially over your legal pursuit for compensation. Our lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis. This means we only get paid an agreed-upon percentage of the settlement or court award we win for you.

This can be a challenging time for you and your family. We want you to be able to focus on your recovery while we handle every aspect of your case. We will investigate your accident, determine liability, and file an insurance claim or civil lawsuit without any upfront costs or fees from you.

Reach Out for Help from a Columbus Side-Impact Collisions Lawyer

If you plan to seek compensation for the damages you suffer in the aftermath of a side-impact collision, there is no need to wait. The team at The Fitch Law Firm LLC is ready to take your call and begin reviewing your case for free today.

The sooner you reach out, the longer we will have to collect evidence and build a case that supports your case. Call today and schedule a no-obligation case review with our skilled side-impact collision auto accident lawyers in Columbus, OH.