Side-impact collisions can refer to many different types of accidents, from sideswipes to T-bone crashes. While the severity of these collisions can vary based on the circumstances, the victims involved often experience financial consequences and injuries.
If you find yourself facing such consequences after another driver hit your vehicle, you can count on a Columbus side-impact collisions lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC to support you. Our team is ready to review your case for free today and discuss the damages that may be available to you in an auto insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Call to speak with a representative now.
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 if they:
- Ran a red light and T-boned your vehicle due to distraction or speeding
- Pulled out in front of you to make a turn as you were lawfully entering an intersection
- Did not use their signal and ensure they had enough room to enter your lane safely before merging
- Failed to maintain their lane and sideswiped 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 may help you recover compensation for economic and non-economic losses.
What Causes Driver Negligence?
Common causes of driver negligence 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
Other Parties May Share Responsibility for the Accident
While many side-impact collisions can be attributed solely to the other driver, fault can sometimes be attributed to other parties. For example, if you were sideswiped by someone because of a defective brake component, you may be able to seek compensation from the company that manufactured the defective part.
Similarly, if the side-impact collision was caused by lack of maintenance on a company-owned vehicle, the company could be liable if they did not conduct proper maintenance and repairs on the truck.
Parties who may be held liable in a side-impact accident include:
- Driver of the vehicle
- Third party involved in the accident
- Manufacturer of defective parts
- Repair or maintenance company if their negligence resulted in part failure
- 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 car accident attorney with experience handling side-impact collisions 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.
For a free legal consultation with a side-impact collisions lawyer serving Columbus, call 614-545-3930
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
Although you may feel fine immediately after the accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, either with paramedics or a visit to the emergency room. 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 documentation that 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, meaning they often result 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.
If you choose the Fitch Law Firm LLC to represent you, a Columbus side-impact collisions 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 with 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 include these costs in your claim or lawsuit as well.
Lost Income
When you face injuries that incapacitate you for any amount of time, it can quickly impact your household income. You may be unable to work for several weeks or months. In other scenarios, you may suffer a partial or complete disability, preventing you from returning to the position you held before the collision. As such, missed wages and reduced earning capacity could both be included in your recoverable compensation.
Pain and Suffering
Beyond economic damages like lost income, vehicle repair bills, and medical expenses, a side-impact collision can also hurt your overall well-being. Non-economic damages, such as general pain and suffering and mental anguish, can impact your day-to-day life just as much. If there is evidence to support this, our team will include these damages in your settlement request.
If you are injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you should not have to go into debt to pay for injuries caused by their actions. A Columbus side-impact collision attorney from the Fitch Law Firm LLC can examine your claim to determine the full value of your monetary and non-monetary losses. Using comprehensive documentation and financial analysis from economic experts, we will establish the amount the accident could cost you over the long term.
Columbus Side-Impact Collisions Lawyer Near Me 614-545-3930
Why Choose Our Law Firm
The Fitch Law Firm LLC has spent over 30 years advocating for victims of side-impact collisions and other traffic accidents. 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. It is our belief 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. To ensure that your attorney has the time to prepare your case before the filing deadline, contact them as soon as possible after the accident.
Reach Out for Help from a Columbus Side-Impact Collisions Lawyer
If you plan to seek compensation for the damages you are suffering 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 now.
Call or text 614-545-3930 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
