If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Columbus, OH, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and related expenses. Our experienced Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer can help you evaluate your case and guide you through the process of filing a motorcycle accident injury claim in Ohio. Contact our personal injury law firm in Columbus today for a free consultation.
Meet John Fitch, Your Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus from The Fitch Law Firm, our entire team can help you start the process of fighting for the compensation you need and deserve from the liable party. Check out our video below, where attorney John Fitch answers some common questions about motorcycle accidents.
What Damages Can I Recover Following a Motorcycle Accident in Columbus?
If you are a motorcycle accident victim, you may be entitled to recover compensation for a variety of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can directly compensate you for financial losses. Non-economic damages are compensation for any other loss you suffer.
Examples of the types of damages you could qualify for include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Loss of quality of life: You can no longer perform certain tasks (e.g., a sport or getting dressed) that you used to. Perhaps you need another person’s help to get through the day.
- Any type of disability: If the accident caused or worsened a physical or intellectual disability, you could collect damages. This is true even if the disability is only temporary.
- Pain and suffering: This may include both physical and emotional distress stemming from either the injuries suffered or the accident itself.
- Lost income and loss of future earnings: For instance, if you missed work due to the accident or if a permanent disability prevents you from working as much as you used to, you could seek compensation for these lost wages.
- Property damage: The most common example of property damage includes motorcycle replacement or repairs.
- Past and future medical bills: This may include rehabilitative therapy, reconstructive surgery, medical consultation, prescription drugs, and mobility equipment.
The team from the Fitch Law Firm LLC believes personal injury victims should not bear the financial burden of injuries caused by someone else. Let us help you pursue fair compensation so that you have one less thing to worry about as you recover.
What About Wrongful Death Damages?
In 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents, and motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic-related fatalities. This is according to Pages 4-5 of a report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Additional damages may be available to those who lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident. In this case, you could file a wrongful death suit. A lawyer from our Columbus team can provide you with the compassionate yet professional service your family needs to get through this difficult time.
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Pursuing Legal Action After a Motorcycle Accident in Columbus, Ohio
We believe that motorcycle accident victims deserve the chance to recuperate in peace without worrying about many cumbersome, challenging legal tasks. The Fitch Law Firm LLC can ease your legal burden and fight hard to protect your interests by:
- Evaluating your case for free: At no cost or obligation to prospective clients, our team is always happy to assess callers’ cases and explain to them how we can help.
- Building a case: A motorcycle accident lawyer from our Columbus office can investigate the accident to verify your story and collect evidence that may help to strengthen your case.
- Identifying and notifying liable parties: Through our research, we can figure out who is financially liable for your injuries and tell them that you are suing for damages.
- Negotiating a settlement: A pretrial settlement is usually a faster way to get money than a trial. We can meet with the liable party’s insurer and try to persuade them to pay what you need.
- Preparing for court: If a trial is unavoidable, we can make all the necessary preparations and even present your case before a judge and jury.
Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Accident?
When filing a lawsuit, it matters less what caused the accident than whether or not you have proof that someone else’s negligence was to blame. Depending on the details of your case, one or more parties may be responsible for your injuries. Some common parties who may be liable include:
- A motorist: The driver of the vehicle that collided with your motorcycle or caused the accident in some other way can be held responsible for your injuries.
- A municipality: Some motorcycle accidents occur due to poorly maintained roads or poor road conditions. In this case, the party responsible for keeping the streets in good condition may be liable for your injuries and property damage.
- The motorcycle manufacturer: The manufacturer may be held liable if a defective part caused your accident. Under some circumstances, the case could become a class action lawsuit if the manufacturer has faced similar lawsuits from other riders.
- A mechanic: The mechanic or company entrusted with maintaining your bike may be held liable for your injuries and property damage if they provided negligent service.
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The Statute of Limitations for Pursuing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
Generally speaking, as stated in Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, motorcycle accident victims have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. The sooner you contact the Fitch Law Firm LLC, the sooner we can go to work to defend your rights against all negligent parties.
While the statute of limitations sets a general deadline for filing a lawsuit, there are exceptions that could allow you to file outside the standard time frame. Depending on the specifics of your case, you could still qualify to submit a lawsuit to the court years after the statute of limitations has run out.
Alternatively, you could find that an exception puts further limits on the amount of time you have to file. The best way to protect yourself against an unexpected deadline is by hiring an attorney shortly after your crash. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus will be able to identify if special circumstances restrict your ability to file a lawsuit.
The Cost of Hiring a Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When you are pursuing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, it is critical that you obtain legal assistance from an experienced professional. Unfortunately, many accident victims fail to secure the money they need, simply because they are afraid that they will not be able to pay an attorney.
However, the truth is that motorcycle accident attorneys work differently from other lawyers. Rather than charging a large retainer fee and a high hourly rate, these lawyers collect a single fee for their services upon the conclusion of your case.
This fee is directly tied to the compensation you receive from the liable party. Your lawyer will collect their money as a fixed percentage of what you recover. This payment method ensures that your attorney will be motivated to get you as much money for your damages as possible. Failure to secure compensation on your behalf means your lawyer doesn’t get paid.
What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?
There are many natural conditions or negligent actions and inactions that may lead to motorcycle accidents, including:
- Distracted driving: Inattentiveness by motorists can easily lead to a motorcycle accident. All a driver has to do is take their eyes off the road for a moment to cause a potentially serious crash.
- Head-on collisions: Head-on collisions may occur if a motorist turns in the path of a motorcycle or if the driver runs a red light and fails to yield the right of way.
- Road conditions: Poor road conditions caused by ice, rain, loose gravel or debris, potholes, road construction, and poorly maintained roads may cause a motorcyclist to lose control and crash.
- Drunk drivers: A driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol may fail to see a motorcyclist or have a delayed response to an impending collision.
- Left turns at an intersection: If a motorist turns left at an intersection and fails to register an oncoming motorcycle, an accident may occur. Motorcyclists may be in special danger in such situations, as they are smaller and often less visible than passenger vehicles.
- Defective equipment: If a defective part, such as a damaged tire or unresponsive brakes, contributed to the accident, then you may have a product liability case.
Let Our Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help You Fight for Compensation
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, it may be in your best interest to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer from our office. Call the Fitch Law Firm LLC or fill out our online contact form to discuss your case and receive legal advice on moving forward. We are proud to serve Columbus, Ohio, and other cities throughout the state.