You have options for financial recovery if you have been injured in a motorcycle crash in the greater Columbus area. You may be able to recover money by filing an insurance claim against the negligent driver.
You likely have many questions about how to file a claim and what you must prove in order to secure compensation. You’ll find a brief outline of some of the most crucial information below.
How We Can Help After Your Motorcycle Accident
Your lawyer will take on all the tasks your case requires. These tasks can include hunting down evidence that supports your claim, assigning a value to your losses, and negotiating with the insurance companies.
We will also file your paperwork on time, help you stay within the statute of limitations, and prove fault in your case. You will have support throughout the progression of your claim, and you will not have to wonder about what to do at each step.
Your legal team will update you whenever something happens, so you are not left out of the loop. Our team will do all we can to help you and your family.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney in Columbus, call (614) 538-1116
Types of Compensation You Could Recover in Your Case
Depending on how your accident affected you, you could collect compensation that covers the following losses:
- Pain and suffering
- The loss of a limb
- Disfigurement
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Motorcycle repairs
If a member of your family passed away in a motorcycle collision, your family can also recover the reasonable cost of their funeral and burial. Additional wrongful death-related damages include loss of financial contributions, companionship, consortium, and guidance.
When we handle your case, our personal injury lawyers will explain your options for filing a wrongful death action. We will also clarify the statute of limitations and help your family fight to recover damages for your losses.
Columbus Motorcycle Accident Attorney (614) 538-1116
What You Must Have in Order to File a Negligence Claim
To recover compensation for your losses, we must prove that your accident was the result of negligence. This involves proving:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care. This “duty” is shared among all drivers who use Columbus’s public roadways.
- The defendant violated their duty of care by acting negligently.
- The accident was the cause of your injuries.
- You suffered damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and more.
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We Can Use Evidence to Prove Negligence
We will need to use evidence to show that you were hurt due to negligence. Supporting evidence in your case could include:
- Photos of the accident scene
- The police report
- Your medical bills
- Witness statements
- Proof of your lost income
- Traffic camera footage
You will lose the right to seek compensation if you fail to act within Ohio’s statute of limitations. Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10 generally gives you two years from the date of your collision to file a lawsuit.
Similarly, the right to seek compensation for the loss of a loved one is also generally two years, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02. The statutory clock starts running from the date of your loved one’s passing and not from the date of their accident.
To adhere to these deadlines, we encourage you to consider your options immediately.
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How Your Own Actions Impact Your Settlement
Ohio observes a law of modified comparative negligence. This means your actions will impact the value of your potential settlement. You can be partially at fault for the accident and still recover damages.
However, your compensation will be reduced in accordance with the percentage of fault assigned to you. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you lose your right to recover damages.
As such, the defendant or insurance company likely will attempt to blame you. They may claim you violated one of Ohio’s motorcycle laws by driving carelessly, such as splitting lanes or riding without a helmet.
Even if you aren’t required to wear a helmet, not wearing one may increase your comparative fault for the accident if you suffer a head or neck injury. Such a choice would reduce how much compensation you could recover.
A lawyer from our firm can present evidence that accurately reflects your role in the accident. Our focus will be on proving the other driver holds all—or a majority—of fault.
How Ohio’s Auto Insurance Requirements Impact Your Claim
Ohio is a “fault” state. You will likely be able to resolve your case by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Ohio’s minimum insurance requirements under Ohio Revised Code Section 4509.51 are:
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
You can pursue the above-outlined compensation—or more depending on your damages—directly from the at-fault driver in your accident. A lawsuit may be necessary to pursue full financial recovery. We can look over your policy to see what your coverage options are.
You Could Recover Damages from Your Own Insurance Company
Sometimes, people injured in motorcycle accidents have to turn to their own insurance providers for compensation. This might be true in your case if:
- The at-fault driver fled the scene, making you the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
- The at-fault driver did not carry auto insurance.
- The at-fault driver did not have enough insurance to cover your expenses and losses.
Bring our team a copy of your own auto insurance policy and any addendums. We will carefully read your policy to see if you have uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
If so, we will help you deal with your own insurance company. Just as we would with a third-party insurer, we handle all communications and correspondence on your behalf. We also help you negotiate a favorable settlement and protect you from bad faith insurance practices.
We Can Determine the Cause of Your Crash
Per the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2020, there were 212 motorcycle accident fatalities. Negligent behaviors claim the lives of hundreds of motorcyclists nationwide.
We may find that one or more of the following factors caused your motorcycle accident in Columbus, OH:
- Texting while driving (or another form of distracted driving)
- Poor roadway maintenance
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- An improper lane change
- Failure to obey traffic signals
Once we determine the cause of your accident, we can begin legal proceedings against the at-fault party.
We Have Won Millions for Injured People and Their Families
On Google Reviews, our clients describe us as warm, supportive, and helpful. We believe that our previous successes speak for themselves.
Some of our successful outcomes include:
- In 2020, we recovered $850,000 for an injured motorcyclist who needed multiple surgeries.
- Before we took this one case to trial, we were able to win $227,000 for a motorcycle accident claimant.
We have experience both at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. We are ready to use our experience to recover fair compensation for your losses.
What You Can Expect from Your Initial Consultation
Preparing a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit after a collision can be a daunting task. When you trust your case to our motorcycle accident lawyers, we handle the hard work and details for you.
We will start with a no-cost, no-obligation review of your case. Here, you can expect us to:
- Listen to your version of events
- Share how we work on a contingency-fee basis
- Explain the merits of your case
- Clarify your case’s anticipated timeline
We will explain our investigative process, the steps involved in building your case, the negotiation process, and our fee structure.
Hear from Previous Motorcycle Accident Clients
When our previous clients tell friends, family, and the online community about their experience with us, they say the following:
- Aaron A.: Fortunately, a friend recommended David and I couldn’t have been happier. He took care of everything and explained the process in an easy to understand way. I’m happy to have this case closed and finally behind me.
- Steve H.: David and his staff at Bressman Law are absolutely the best…We followed his advice and received a very nice settlement…We would recommend Bressman Law to anyone that needs a personal injury lawyer. THANK YOU BRESSMAN LAW!!!!
Read additional reviews from clients we’ve represented in the past on our testimonials page. These reviews attest to our commitment to helping injured clients hold negligent drivers financially responsible.
Call Bressman Law If You Have More Questions
You may contact our offices to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about your rights. Call today to get started. Feel free to ask us about what you can expect from your motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
