Columbus Car Accident Lawyers

614-487-8669

12 Ohio Locations // Free Consultations // Available 24/7 // No Recovery, No Fee

"I am so grateful for KNR. They were professional, kind, expedient, and effective. I received a favorable settlement, fully covering the medical fees from my accident, with additional money."

★★★★★

Amy B.

Legal Help for the Injured

Car Accident Attorneys in Columbus, Ohio

You may wonder whether hiring a Columbus personal injury lawyer is the right step after a car crash in Franklin County, but there are many ways an accident attorney can assist throughout the claims process.

At KNR, our Columbus car accident lawyers help manage your medical bills while awaiting a settlement, handle communication with the insurance adjuster, and fight for your rights. We gather necessary documents, negotiate fair settlements, and take your case to court if needed. To learn more about how our attorneys can help, contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick at (614) 487-8669 for a free initial consultation.

At KNR, we ask, ‘what can we do?’ so you move on with more.

Steps to Take After a Columbus Car Accident

When you are involved in a car crash, we recommend you:

Call Columbus Police – If the collision does not merit calling 911, do not forget to file an accident reported with the Columbus Police Department. It can be helpful to have law enforcement there to control traffic, conduct an initial investigation, and write up an accident report.
Seek Medical Attention – If you or a companion are suffering visible or potentially serious injuries, go to the emergency room (ER) at the Ohio State University Hospital, Mount Carmel, OhioHealth, or another local ER.
Exchange Insurance Information – Ask the other driver for their name, contact information, and auto insurance information if you can. You or the driver of your vehicle will need to provide the same in return.
Collect Evidence – We understand this may not be possible after a crash. You may be badly hurt or in shock. If the other driver is aggressive, you may simply keep your distance to remain safe. However, if you can, use your phone to take photos and videos of the crash, surrounding property damage, and any marks on the pavement.
Call a Columbus Car Accident Law Firm – Once you have departed from the crash site and obtained medical care, the next step should be to call an experienced car accident lawyer. Now is the time to learn about your rights and options after a crash.

Who is Liable for My Car Accident?

The most important question after a crash is who is liable for your injuries. A liable party is a person, business, or municipality required to compensate you for your physical, psychological, and financial injuries. This party may or may not be the driver behind the other car’s wheel.

Negligent Drivers

The person at fault for the collision is the driver that was most negligent. Drivers are required to behave as a reasonably prudent person would under the circumstances. When a driver is behind the wheel, they need to follow the rules of the road, use common sense, and act carefully to avoid a collision.

When a driver violates a traffic law or behaves carelessly behind the wheel, they are negligent. If this negligence leads to a crash and another person’s injuries, the driver is at fault and liable for the injuries.

Car Owner Liability

When another driver causes a crash and your injuries, you will typically file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. However, this may not be the only available policy. If the driver was in another person or business’s vehicle, whether the vehicle was rented or borrowed, then the car owner’s liability policy may apply to the crash and your injuries. One of our auto accident lawyers in Columbus will pursue additional compensation from the owner’s policy.

Employer Liability

Was the at-fault driver working at the time of the crash? If the driver was on duty and driving as part of their work responsibilities when they caused the accident, then that driver’s employer is liable for your injuries. Your Columbus car accident attorney will pursue compensation under the business’s liability policy, which to your benefit, may have a much higher policy limit.

Dram Shop Liability

In Ohio, alcohol servers can be held liable for accidents caused by drunk drivers if the person or business sold or provided alcohol to someone under 21-years-old, or to someone who was noticeably intoxicated.

If we discover the at-fault driver was also drunk at the time of the collision, we will investigate where the driver obtained alcohol just prior to the crash. If they had been drinking at someone’s home or at a bar or restaurant, or if they had purchased alcohol from a store, we may file a lawsuit against that party.

Product Liability

It is possible that the driver in the vehicle that hit you was not negligent at all. Instead, a vehicle defect may have been responsible for the crash. When our investigation uncovers a vehicle defect, we will pursue compensation for you through a product liability claim against the vehicle manufacturer or retailer.

Highway Design and Road Hazards (Construction Zones)

Your accident, or the severity of the accident, may have been due to road hazards, such as construction equipment improperly placed on the road, potholes, bumps, or drop-offs. It also is possible that the road and its safety features were poorly designed. A road may lack the proper no-passing markings or signs, guardrails, or lighting.

When our car accident lawyers determine that poor roadway design or road hazards, including construction equipment, led to your crash and injuries, we may pursue a claim against the local government or construction business. A claim against a municipality is a far different process than the typical car insurance claim or car accident lawsuit. You will need an experienced accident attorney to help you navigate a claim against the city, county, or state.

Statutes of Limitations on Car Accident Claims

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Franklin County or anywhere in Ohio, the state gives you two years to file a lawsuit. This time limit does not apply to your insurance claim. When you wish to seek a car accident settlement, you need to provide notice to the insurer right away.

If you wait several months or over a year, your claim will likely be denied. This is one of many reasons it is important to talk with a Columbus car accident attorney right away.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Columbus

Car accidents in Columbus and throughout Franklin County often arise due to a variety of factors. Columbus is a bustling city with heavy traffic, especially during rush hours on major roads like I-71, I-270, and I-70. This congestion contributes to some of the most common causes of car accidents, which include:

Speeding: With the fast-paced nature of urban life, drivers often exceed speed limits, especially on highways such as I-670 and US-33.
Drugged driving: Ohio has seen a rise in accidents caused by drivers impaired by prescription drugs, marijuana, and other substances.
Distracted driving: Common in Columbus, particularly with the increased use of smartphones, leading to crashes in high-traffic areas like High Street and Polaris Parkway.
Drowsy driving: Drivers fatigued from long work hours or late-night driving around The Ohio State University and other busy districts are prone to accidents.
Ignoring traffic signs and signals: Running red lights and stop signs, especially in Downtown Columbus and at busy intersections, is a frequent cause of accidents.
Failing to yield the right of way: Drivers often fail to yield at intersections like those along Broad Street, leading to collisions.
Reckless driving: High-speed maneuvers, tailgating, and weaving through traffic are common on highways and contribute to severe crashes.
Road rage: Aggressive driving, particularly in heavy traffic zones, can escalate into dangerous situations.
Poor weather: Columbus experiences frequent snow and ice in the winter, creating hazardous road conditions on highways and residential streets alike.
Obstacles and hazards in the road: Debris, potholes, and construction zones, particularly near growing neighborhoods and commercial developments, increase accident risks.

Common Types of Car Accidents

Our Columbus car accident lawyers are here to represent you after:

Rear-End Collisions: Common in congested areas like Easton Town Center and along I-70.
Head-On Crashes: Often occurring on two-lane roads in suburban and rural areas of Franklin County.
Side Impact “T-Bone” Wrecks: Frequent at busy intersections like those along Sawmill Road and Olentangy River Road.
Accidents with Semi-Trucks: Given Columbus’ role as a transportation hub, truck accidents are common on I-70 and I-71.
Side Swipe Accidents in the Same and Opposite Direction: Occur often on highways like I-270 when drivers attempt to change lanes without checking blind spots.
Blind Spot Collisions: Typically occur during lane changes on busy routes like US-23 and SR-315.
Run Off the Road Crashes: Frequently occur on rural roads and high-speed highways surrounding Columbus.
Drunk Driving Wrecks: Drunk driving incidents increase around OSU and the Arena District during weekends and late nights.
Left-Turn Accidents: Common at high-traffic intersections on High Street and Cleveland Avenue.
U-Turn Collisions: Occur frequently in busy areas like Polaris Parkway where drivers attempt U-turns in heavy traffic.
Hit and Run Crashes: Often occur in densely populated areas or parking lots, particularly around the Short North and German Village.
Low-Speed Wrecks: Common in residential neighborhoods and parking structures.
Parking Lot Accidents: Frequently occur in shopping centers like Easton or Polaris Fashion Place.
High-Speed Collisions: Most prevalent on interstates and highways such as I-70 and I-71.
SUV Rollovers: Occur on high-speed curves and ramps, particularly on I-270.

It is also common for cars to have accidents with other motor vehicles. Truck accidents can be complex because they often involve serious injury and total loss property damage. Motorcycle accidents are difficult to navigate because determining liability can be confusing. You should seek legal representation to help you with either of these types of injury cases.

What Our Clients Are Saying

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"I thought no one cared."

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"I had been in a car accident and thought no one cared. I was shocked when Attorney Redick called and said they were still working on my case and all of my medical bills had been paid. They did everything in a caring and concerned manner."

Fight for Everything You’re Owed

Compensation After Columbus Car Accidents

Medical care and rehab for car accident injuries are often long-term and expensive. Most people are not prepared to pay these costs upfront. And, if another party caused your injury – you shouldn’t have to.

At KNR, we ask, ‘what can we do?’ so you move on with more.

How to Recover Car Accident Damages

Whether it is through a personal injury lawsuit or insurance settlement, the attorneys at KNR have helped numerous Columbus car accident victims obtain what they need. For instance, we recently helped a passenger in Franklin County secure $100,00 after being injured when their vehicle was struck by a motorist who failed to obey a stop sign.

You may be able to recover compensation for:

Your past and future medical expenses
Your lost wages from being off work
The pain and suffering you experienced
Your emotional distress and mental anguish
The loss of consortium caused by your injury.

Through an insurance settlement or a court award, your car accident compensation should encompass your special and general damages.

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Special Damages

These are the economic losses you suffered. This includes your medical expenses and other out-of-pocket costs associated with the crash and your injuries. It also includes the money you did not make because of your injuries, including lost wages, employment benefits, and a lower earning capacity.

General Damages

These are your non-economic injuries, like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. The value of these injuries is subjective and means proving what you endured. We may ask you to keep a daily journal regarding your pain and the psychological consequences of your injuries.

Punitive Damages

If the at-fault party’s conduct was particularly egregious, you might be entitled to punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate you for an injury. Instead, they are meant to punish the wrongdoer.

Car Accident Wrongful Death & Survival Damages

Your loved one may have initially survived the car accident only to pass away later. Because they lived for a period, they had a right to pursue a personal injury claim from the date of the accident to the date of their death.

While their death stopped them from doing so, the claim itself survives. The estate can pursue the compensation they would have been entitled to during their life through a survival action.

If your relative passed away immediately, then there is no personal injury claim. Instead, you and your family have a wrongful death claim to pursue. This covers your mental anguish the loss of their income, services, and companionship.

Insurance Issues After a Car Accident

Insurance claims after collisions do not always proceed smoothly for accident victims. You may encounter a number of issues while you pursue a car accident settlement, such as:

Lack of Insurance

One of the toughest issues to overcome is the lack of insurance coverage. The at-fault driver may not have a policy. In this situation, we will look for other policies, such as insurance purchased by the car owner or employer. We may also help you pursue a settlement based on your insurance policy or through a personal injury lawsuit.

Wrongful Denials

You may have hope that your car accident claim will be resolved fairly until you receive a letter in the mail saying your claim for compensation has been denied. You should immediately talk with a Columbus car accident lawyer about why this denial occurred and how to appeal the decision. We have handled and overcome many initial wrongful insurance claim denials.

Bad Faith & Unfair Business Practices

Ohio law requires the insurer to treat you fairly when you pursue compensation through a first or third-party insurance claim. The insurer cannot lie or try to manipulate you. Unfortunately, some insurance adjusters fail to handle your claim in good faith.

An adjuster may delay your claim, fail to properly investigate your claim, wrongfully deny your claim, or refuse to settle your claim for an appropriate amount. Any time you fear you are being treated unfairly by the insurer, give us a call to address these bad faith insurance practices.

Low Settlement Offers

Your insurance claim process may appear to go smoothly until the adjuster sends its first settlement offer. You may balk at the amount or learn for your accident attorney that this will not cover all of your past and future expenses. Having a car accident lawyer in Columbus who is prepared to vigorously negotiate a higher settlement is important. We have years of experience dealing with insurance companies.

Car Accident Settlements

The purpose of auto insurance and an insurance claim after a crash is to resolve your situation with a settlement. This settlement should cover your property damage, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other physical, psychological, and financial injuries. In exchange for you accepting the settlement, you agree to not file or dismiss an ongoing lawsuit against the liable party.

Car accident settlements are not always easy to get after a crash. Insurance companies may initially wrongfully deny your claim. Or, what is often the case, the insurance adjuster will offer a settlement that is lower than the full value of your damages. A Columbus car accident lawyer will spot a lowball offer right away and will begin negotiations. In many cases, we can negotiate a far better sum for our clients than the first offer.

However, car accident settlements are not always possible or forthcoming. You may benefit from filing a personal injury lawsuit and preparing for trial in these situations.

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$100,000 Recovered for T-Bone Accident Victim

When an at-fault driver ran a red light, it caused a T-bone accident with our client’s vehicle. Our…

Case Type

Car Accidents

Settlement $

$100,000.00

What Makes KNR Special?

Why Work with Our Columbus Car Accident Attorneys

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR), we are committed to making the recovery process after a car accident in Columbus as smooth as possible. Dealing with insurance claims can be overwhelming, but our experienced car accident lawyers know how to get results. With 500+ years of combined legal experience and millions recovered for Ohio clients, including many right here in Franklin County, we’re confident in our ability to help you secure maximum compensation.

How KNR’s Columbus Car Accident Lawyers Can Help:

Investigate & Collect Evidence: We gather critical information and work with local car accident experts to build a strong case.
Communicate with Insurers: We handle all discussions with insurance companies to pursue full compensation.
Maximize Your Claim: We ensure all damages, including medical costs and lost wages, are accounted for.
Local Insight: Our deep knowledge of Columbus courts and relationships with local hospitals like OhioHealth and Mount Carmel give us an edge.
No Upfront Costs: You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

“Excellent, in all aspects. Kind and compassionate, and listened to details. Well, satisfied. Thanks, guys !!” John P.

Read what previous clients have to say about us.

At KNR, we ask, ‘what can we do?’ so you move on with more.

KNR Prepares Car Accident Cases for Trial

If you wish to take your personal injury claim to court, you must have evidence that the other party had a legal duty, failed to uphold that legal duty (was negligent), and this failure led to the crash and your injuries. You will be required to provide evidence that the other party was negligent. You have to show a direct causal link between this negligence and the collision. Then, you also have to prove the type and extent of your injuries.

Gathering Evidence

Your auto accident attorney in Columbus will prepare to prove each of these elements by gathering as much evidence as possible. This will include the police report, any pictures and videos of the crash or its aftermath, any eyewitnesses’ statements, and your medical records.

We will investigate the driver’s background, including their medical record, determining whether they were working at the time of the crash, and determining whether they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. KNR will also look into the vehicle and research whether there were any active recalls.

What is Discovery?

At a certain point, some critical information will be under another party’s control, like the insurance company or the at-fault driver. This is why the discovery phase is so important. During this time, the parties exchange information through interrogatories, requests for documents, depositions, and other legal tools.

We will send the liable party interrogatories, which are questions they may answer completely and accurately. We will send requests for documents to obtain important business records. And we will schedule depositions, which allow us to question relevant people and obtain their out-of-court statements before trial.

Dealing with Car Accident Experts

We may determine that one or more experts would help your case during investigation and discovery. Our accident attorneys may hire an expert to help prove the other party was responsible for the crash, such as an accident reconstructionist or engineer. Or, we may hire an expert to establish the type and extent of your injuries. This may require bringing in a doctor who specializes in your kind of injury.

Also, if you suffered serious or catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injuries, we may have to prove your future damages. We may hire vocational and economic experts to establish your earning capacity after the accident and the financial losses you will incur throughout the rest of your life.

Preparing Car Crash Witnesses

Another step is working with the witnesses. We may have one or more eyewitnesses testifying on your behalf. Your car accident attorney will prepare them for testifying as well as what to expect from the other side, which may be aggressive and uncomfortable.

FAQs for Columbus Car Accident Victims

What should I do immediately after a car accident in Columbus?

After a car accident, ensure your safety and the safety of others by moving to a secure location if possible. Call 911 to report the accident and seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor. Exchange information with the other driver(s), gather evidence such as photos of the scene, and collect contact details from witnesses. It’s also important to contact an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Ohio?

In Ohio, you generally have two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury claim. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. Failing to file within this period may prevent you from recovering compensation. However, there may be exceptions or special circumstances that could affect this timeline, so it’s best to consult with an attorney promptly.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?

If the other driver involved in your accident is uninsured or underinsured, you may still have options for recovering compensation. Ohio requires all drivers to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) as part of their auto insurance policy. This coverage can help pay for your medical expenses and other damages if the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. An attorney can help you explore all possible avenues for compensation.

How long will it take to resolve my car accident case?

The time it takes to resolve a car accident case can vary widely depending on the complexity of the case, the extent of the injuries, and whether the case goes to trial. Some cases may be resolved in a matter of months, while others could take a year or longer. An experienced attorney can give you a better estimate based on the specific details of your case.

Do I need an attorney to handle my car accident claim?

While you are not legally required to hire an attorney to handle your car accident claim, having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side can significantly increase your chances of obtaining fair compensation. An attorney can help you navigate complex legal processes, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way.

Contact a Columbus Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Columbus, KNR is here to help. With multiple locations across Ohio, we proudly serve Columbus and offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call (513) 221-0499 to schedule your free car accident evaluation.

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Hurt in a Columbus Car Crash? Call KNR

If you or a loved one are hurt in a car accident anywhere in Columbus, Ohio, do not hesitate to contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick Let us explain the law, your rights, and how to best recover maximum compensation. Call (614) 487-8669 for a free consultation.

12 Convenient Locations // Free Consultations // Available 24/7 // No Recovery, No Fee