Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Key Highlights

• Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer protect motorcyclist riders from wrongful or unfairly assigned motorcycle accident fault; assist riders in the complex insurance claim process. 

• High-risk accidents are caused by the following main causes and areas of concern: distracted driving, speeding, failure of motorist to check blind spots, and highways I-71 and I-270 in downtown Columbus. 
• The most common motorcycle-related injuries include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, abrasions (also known as road rash), broken bones, and long-term impairment. 
• Compensation may be available for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, uninsured motorist/uninsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), and Ohio fault rules.

When you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, having a Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer who understands the laws of Ohio can change everything for you. At Evans Injury Attorneys, we represent injured motorcycle riders throughout Columbus, OH, and we understand how life-changing a motorcycle accident can be on multiple levels physically, financially, and emotionally. Motorcycle accidents often lead to significant injuries and aggressive tactics from insurance companies compared to typical car accidents or other forms of transportation.

Motorcycle accidents are often misunderstood when it comes to assigning fault, the use of helmets, and dealing with insurance. As a trusted motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus, we focus on protecting the rights of injured riders against being wrongly blamed for their injuries and we work to ensure that the law is being applied correctly. If you have been injured and don’t know where to go from here, a knowledgeable Columbus OH motorcycle accident lawyer can help explain your options and help you pursue your recovery.

Reach out to Evans Injury Attorneys and schedule a free consultation with our experienced attorneys to learn how our team can help protect your rights and claims.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Dangerous in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus Motorcycle Accidents are often associated with serious injuries due to exposure to high-speed traffic and various distractions, plus complex roadway design. Understanding why these accidents occur and the laws in Ohio that apply may help make a significant difference in the outcome of your motorcycle injury claim.

Common Causes of a Columbus Motorcycle Crash

Most motorcyclists in Columbus are injured as a result of not being noticed or misjudged by other drivers on the road. They often fail to notice the motorcyclist’s size, distance, and speed.

• Distracted driving because the driver was using a phone or GPS 
• Failing to check their blind spot before changing lanes or merging onto the road
• Turning left onto a road that is occupied by an oncoming motorcycle
• Driving aggressively or speeding
• Failing to stop at a red light or yield the right of way at an intersection

High-Risk Motorcycle Accident Areas in Columbus

Some roads in Columbus have increased hazards for motorcycles. The congestion, merging traffic and lane changes create areas where there are a lot of serious Columbus motorcycle crashes. The following is a list of the areas in Columbus that are typically prone to motorcycle accidents:

• I-71 during rush hour traffic
• I-270 Outerbelt with its fast-moving vehicles and numerous lane change opportunities
• Downtown ‘Split’ area, where the complex traffic patterns and sudden merges make it difficult for motorcyclists to navigate
• Major commuter corridors with heavy daily traffic volume

An experienced motorbike accident attorney understands that these roadway conditions play a major role in the motorcycle accident and thus they will use this information to form their client’s motorcycle accident claim.

Understanding Ohio’s Motorcycle Helmet Law and Your Injury Claim

After an accident, Ohio’s motorcycle helmet law is often misunderstood or misapplied by the insurance company. The Ohio Law only requires helmets for:

• Riders who are less than 18 years old.
• Riders who hold a novice driver’s license.
• Adult riders with a full driver’s license are not required by law to wear a helmet.

No helmet on a motorcyclist will not automatically prevent them from filing an injury claim for compensation. However, many times insurance companies will make an argument that they would reduce the amount of compensation given to the injured motorcyclist because the helmet would have prevented or reduced their Injuries; this argument is commonly referred to as “Mitigation of Damages.” The experienced motorcycle injury attorneys at Evans Injury Attorney have extensive knowledge on how to refute these arguments and prevent insurance companies from applying unfair mitigation of damages.

What Does the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Columbus Ohio Actually Does for You

Columbus motorcycle accident attorneys near me are someone who has been trained in Ohio’s motorcycle laws and the insurance practices in your area and is someone that understands the difficulties faced by individuals who have been injured while riding motorcycles. Evans Injury Attorneys place emphasis on protecting your rights while providing you with a comprehensive and substantiated legal defense that is backed by facts and evidence.

Investigating the Motorcycle Accident

The Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer will likely investigate the incident thoroughly in order to find out how the Columbus motorcycle crash happened. They will look at information such as: the physical evidence left at the scene, damage to the vehicles involved, the road conditions where the crash occurred, and the patterns of traffic that are typically found in Columbus when there is a motorcycle accident.

Working With Columbus Police Reports

Police reports often influence the way insurance companies determine who handles payments for an accident. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney Columbus understands how to read a Columbus police report, as well as what may not be in the report, and can help to include other evidence when the police report doesn’t contain the facts about what occurred during the accident.

Preserving Evidence and Witness Statements

Evidence from an automobile accident can begin to disappear shortly after the accident occurs. A skilled personal injury lawyer will act quickly to protect this evidence; this may include gathering video surveillance footage, collecting witness statements, and safeguarding any physical evidence. 

Dealing With Biased Insurance Adjusters

“Insurance companies often try to rely on stereotypes about motorcyclists,” says Franklin R. Evans, founder of Evans Injury Attorneys with more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases. “Our job is to make sure the focus stays on what actually happened in the Columbus motorcycle crash not unfair assumptions about the rider.”

Filing a Lawsuit When Negotiations Fail

If you are not getting a fair settlement from your insurance company after an accident, your best motorcycle accident lawyer Columbus OH can file a lawsuit and prepare your case for court. This method has been used in many cases throughout central Ohio and will motivate insurance companies to take negotiations more seriously.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries We See in Columbus

There are many serious injuries caused by motorcycle accidents that involve little to no physical protection for riders. An experienced Columbus motorcycle accident injury lawyer can help victims understand how their injuries will impact their immediate medical needs and long-term injury compensation claims. 

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Motorcycle riders may have concussive and irreversible head trauma. While helmets can be a protective measure for motorcycle riders, it is routine that when motorcycle riders have injuries, they typically have long-term medical treatment in the process of recovery, in addition to increased complexity and value related to motorcycle accident claims. 
• Spinal cord injuries: When a rider suffers damage to the spinal cord, it could result in complete or partial paralysis. Injuries to the spinal cord usually involve many months of rehabilitation and may result in permanent loss of mobility. An experienced motorcycle injury attorneys will be critical to a victim who suffers from a spinal cord injury. 
• Road rash and severe skin injuries: When a rider slides down the road at a high rate of speed, it can produce significant skin and tissue damage. This damage can lead to severe infection, long-lasting scars and ultimately may require ongoing medical treatment. 
• Broken bones and orthopedic trauma: Fractures of bones are quite common among injured riders. Typically, fractures result in a rider needing surgery, physical therapy, and several months to recover. Loss of wages due to a broken bone will have a direct effect on future earning potential.
• Internal organ damage: Riders who suffer from blunt force trauma may not be aware of the injury because it isn’t always easy to identify or assess the injury. If a rider does sustain an internal injury, such as a torn organ or bleeding, he or she will need prompt medical evaluation and accurate documentation of the injury for use in court.
• Long-term disability or impairment: Injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can often lead to long-term disability or impairment. Chronic pain, permanent limitations or loss of function due to the injuries directly impacts the injured person’s quality of life and the total amount of money sought in compensation for the injuries sustained in the accident.

How Compensation Works After a Motorcycle Accident in Ohio

Knowledge of how compensation works following an accident may reduce the uncertainty associated with having sustained an injury from an accident. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus OH will be able to help the injured motorcyclist understand how the State of Ohio’s laws regarding insurance and rules on fault affect the value of the claim.

Types of Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Accident

Compensation for motorcycle accident claims can include various types of compensation, based on the amount of injury caused by the collision.

• Medical bills (current and future): Emergency treatment procedures and treatments related to the injuries sustained during the incident, including surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and continuing treatment expenses must be considered so that all short-term and long-term medical needs are met.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity: Lost wages for time not spent at work can be compensated; any possible loss of ability to earn a living as a result of the permanent or lengthy injury must also be compensated in some manner.
• Pain and suffering: The value of pain and suffering or the pain one feels and the suffering experienced by the victim, alcoholism, the emotion of trauma and loss of opportunity to experience enjoyment and happiness in life as a result of the serious motorcycle accident are considered non-economic damages. This also includes loss of quality of life due to the same injury.
• Property damage: Property damage as a result of the collision would include damage to your motorcycle, broken riding gear and also other items damaged at the time of the motorcycle wreck. This can be settled by repairs or replacement of the damaged property.
• Wrongful death damages: In cases where a motorcycle accident results in a person being killed (or dying), family members can file a claim for all funeral expenses incurred, loss of support and companionship and loss of wage and salary, as a result of the injuries sustained by the deceased.

Ohio’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule (51% Bar Rule)

A rider can be compensated under the “modified comparative negligence system” in Ohio if he/she is less than or equal to 50% at fault for the accident injury. If a rider is determined to have been at fault by any degree greater than 50% then no compensation will be made. Partial fault does not prevent a claim from being valid.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage

While Ohio law requires a minimum insurance coverage of $25,000, this amount often does not cover extensive injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. In instances where the at-fault driver does not have sufficient coverage, the injured rider’s own UM/UIM policy can provide important financial assistance to help pay for catastrophic injuries.

“Insurance companies are pretty quick to undervalue your claims, our role as your lawyers is to pursue full and fair compensation and prevent insurers from wrongly shifting the blame on you.”

Suzy Broderick Lead Associate Attorney, High-Profile Litigation Strategist & Catastrophic Injury Advocate

Why Choose Evans Injury Attorneys as Your Motorcycle Accident Law Firm

Evans Injury Attorneys is a motorcycle accident law firm Columbus Ohio led by Franklin R. Evans, who has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases. Each member of our law firm has over 31 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases, and we have provided credible assistance to injured motorcyclists throughout Central Ohio.

• Established Columbus motorcycle accident law firm: Being a Columbus-based we recognize the unique roadways, flow on the road and the court and insurance system within central and surrounding areas, all of which play critical roles in determining how much money can be received following motorcycle accident injuries.
• Over 31 years of personal injury experience: Our accident lawyers in Columbus Ohio have extensive experience with hundreds of challenging and complicated cases involving the injury law of Ohio as well as thousands of claims for personal injury resulting from motorcycle accidents where fault is contested and extensive injuries are sustained.
• Deep familiarity with local courts and insurers: Our knowledge of local courts and insurance companies allows us to successfully represent every motorcyclist within Columbus and Franklin County.
• Trial-ready motorcycle accident representation: We work with insurance companies and usually reach settlements without going through the time-consuming process of trial. However, should the insurance company not offer an adequate amount of compensation for an injured party, we will continue to register our case for trial.
• No upfront legal fees: You’ll never need to pay an attorney’s retainer fee when you hire us to represent you in the case of a motorcycle accident. All of our cases are represented on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will not incur any attorney’s fees unless we succeed in obtaining a financial recovery for you.

Talk to a Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Motorcycle accident claims are complex cases in Ohio, often due to disputes over fault, disputes with the motor vehicle insurer, and short timelines for filing suits. A reputable Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer will assist the injured motorcyclist in protecting their rights and ensuring that all applicable laws are adhered to.

Evans Injury Attorneys represent the interests of injured motorcycle riders by assisting them in exploring their various options and ultimately obtaining the compensation that they are rightfully entitled to receive.

If you have been injured while riding your motorcycle in Columbus, Ohio, we urge you to call Evans Injury Attorneys at (678) 792-0067 to find out how they can help you take the next step towards recovery and compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

What if the driver who hit me claims they “didn’t see” my motorcycle?

A claim of “did not see” a motorcycle cannot be used as a legal defense. All motorists are required to drive carefully and be on the lookout for motorcycles, so such claims are often made as an attempt to shift liability.

Can I recover compensation if road conditions caused my motorcycle accident?

Yes, if the accident was caused by poorly maintained roads or construction-related hazards and the parties responsible are either a government or contractor you can. But the process for filing a claim for these types of accidents is often complicated and has shorter deadline.

Should I speak to the insurance company before hiring a lawyer?

Insurance adjusters record victims’ statements for the purpose of finding ways to either deny or downplay their claims. Speaking with an attorney prior to discussing your claim with an adjuster allows you to protect your rights and avoid having your statement misinterpreted.

What if my motorcycle accident injuries worsen after I settle?

Once you’ve accepted a settlement there’s no way to get more compensation for medical injuries that may develop as a result of a motorcycle crash. That’s why it’s important to understand the total medical costs before accepting.

How soon should I contact a Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer after a crash?

Hiring a lawyer as soon as possible after any accident will allow for the preservation of evidence and help you protect yourself against unfair insurance tactics, along with ensuring that you meet all deadlines.

How long does a motorcycle accident lawsuit take in Ohio?

The timeframe will differ from case to case. Claims involving an injury may settle in approximately three to six months, whereas claims that involve significant injury or liability disputes will typically take anywhere from one to two year or longer for resolution.

How much can you sue for a motorcycle accident in Columbus, Ohio?

A lawsuit’s value will depend on a various factors including the severity of the injury, the cost of needed medical care, lost wages, the amount of pain and suffering experienced, available insurance policy limits, and the percentage of responsibility.