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Columbus Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents are stressful and can lead to physical, emotional, and financial damages. In some cases, car accident victims face high medical bills, lost wages, lengthy recovery times, and the stress of worrying about their and their family's future. When your injuries were someone else's fault, you deserve a Columbus car accident lawyer with proven legal skills and a record of success.
Legally Reviewed by:
Mark S. Gervelis, Esq.
Last Updated:
- September 19, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Should I Hire Gervelis Law Firm for My Car Accident Case in Columbus?
- Our Columbus Car Accident Attorneys
- Who Is Liable in a Columbus Car Accident Case?
- What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Columbus?
- How Can the Car Accident Attorneys at Gervelis Law Firm Help?
- What Evidence Is Needed To Prove a Columbus Car Accident Case?
- What Damages Can I Receive Compensation for in a Columbus Car Accident Case?
- What Factors Contribute to More Car Accidents?
- Local Resources for Injured Car Accident Victims in Columbus
- Contact Gervelis Law Firm Today
When you partner with Gervelis Law Firm, our team will investigate your crash, calculate your damages, establish liability, and fight for every penny you deserve. We have a long history of successful negotiations with insurance companies and the skills to fight aggressively for you in court when necessary.
Why Should I Hire Gervelis Law Firm for My Car Accident Case in Columbus?
Our firm has proudly represented the people of Ohio since 2000. In those 25 years, we’ve focused on providing the best possible service to our clients. We will meet you at your home or in the hospital if that best suits your needs and give your case the personalized attention it deserves from start to finish.
Our attorneys know Ohio, its laws, and the streets and intersections where accidents commonly occur in Columbus. We move fast when people need our help. If you decide to partner with us, our Rapid Investigation Team will be on-site within 24 hours to collect vital evidence.
We have a proven record of success, collecting millions for our deserving clients. When you partner with Gervelis Law Firm, you get a team devoted to helping accident victims receive the compensation they deserve.
Case Results and Settlements
Our car accident lawyers have a successful history of securing compensation that helps clients move forward with their lives. Some of our notable results include the following:
- $1,000,000 for a motorcyclist struck by a driver who turned left into his path at an intersection. The motorcyclist was ejected from his motorcycle upon impact and sustained fractures that required multiple surgeries.
- $900,000 for the family of a driver who died from injuries suffered in a seven-car pile-up caused by a semi-truck on a Fulton County highway. The truck driver had entered a construction zone without slowing for traffic, causing the crash.
- $200,000 for a driver who sustained multiple fractures when a dump truck ran a stop sign and struck her car.
Our Columbus Car Accident Attorneys
Our accomplished personal injury lawyers can handle the most complex car accident cases. We have the resources to take on insurance companies and know their tactics for denying claims or offering low settlements.
Founding Attorney
The founder of Gervelis Law Firm, Mark S. Gervelis, is board-certified in trial advocacy by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification. He has been practicing law in Ohio since 1976. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group of the country’s top trial lawyers.
Attorney
A lifelong Ohio resident who grew up in Akron, David Michael Tschantz has been practicing civil litigation at Gervelis since 2011. David attended John Carroll University in Cleveland for undergraduate studies before receiving his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. He focuses on representing people injured in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, including cases involving complex orthopedic injuries, brain injuries, and wrongful death.
Attorney
Stephanie M. Mehle is a graduate of Kent State University and the University of Akron School of Law. She joined us in 2015 and has spent the last decade representing people injured in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, including those with catastrophic injuries.
Who Is Liable in a Columbus Car Accident Case?
You must name all liable parties in your car accident claim to have the best chance of receiving full compensation for your injuries. Potentially liable parties include the following:
- The other driver
- A third driver who caused someone to hit you
- An insurance company
- A rideshare or delivery company
- An employer, if someone working at the time caused your accident
- A manufacturer of defective parts such as brakes or airbags
- A government entity in cases of poor road maintenance or an accident with a government vehicle.
Under Ohio’s comparative negligence law, you can collect damages if you were not more than 50 percent responsible for your accident. Your share of the fault reduces your potential compensation. For example, if you have $1 million in damages and are 20 percent at fault, you can collect $800,000.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Columbus?
Ohio’s personal injury statute of limitations imposes the deadline for filing suit over a car accident. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio is two years from the accident date. If you are filing a wrongful death suit over the death of a loved one, you have two years from the date of death to file. If you miss the deadline, a judge will likely dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to recover compensation.
Get legal help as quickly as possible after an accident. Our experienced car accident lawyers in Columbus know which evidence to gather quickly and will file your case on time so you don’t miss your chance at collecting damages.
How Can the Car Accident Attorneys at Gervelis Law Firm Help?
While you focus on healing, you need the peace of mind that someone is advocating on your behalf. Our Columbus car accident lawyers take critical steps for your case, such as collecting evidence and talking with the police and insurance companies. We will also contact witnesses to secure their testimony before memories fade and determine which experts to contact from our carefully cultivated local network.
Our Columbus car accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. You don’t pay unless we win and will pay no upfront costs.
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What Evidence Is Needed To Prove a Columbus Car Accident Case?
Your attorney uses several critical pieces of evidence to establish your case for liability and damages. Specific needs vary from case to case, but evidence generally includes the following:
- Medical records
- Paystubs and other income verification
- Photos and videos of the accident scene and from surrounding cameras
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony, such as from accident reconstructionists and medical professionals
For your initial consultation, bring your medical records, police report, and income verification so we can develop an estimate of your damages. Also, bring witnesses’ names, contact information, and any pictures or videos you took. If you cannot collect this evidence, our team of highly skilled investigators can gather it for you.
What Damages Can I Receive Compensation for in a Columbus Car Accident Case?
Our car accident lawyers in Columbus can help you seek economic and non-economic damages after a car accident. Economic damages make up for your financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional impact of your accident. Damages you can pursue include:
- Medical expenses and future medical costs
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death car accident claims
Our car accident attorneys in Columbus, Ohio, have significant experience helping victims calculate damages. We will advise whether a settlement offer sufficiently covers your current and future harm and aggressively fight for the full compensation you deserve.
What Factors Contribute to More Car Accidents?
Many factors combine to put people in Columbus at risk of car accidents. These issues put pedestrians, cyclists, motor vehicle riders, and passengers in the path of sometimes dangerous conditions.
Large Student Population
Columbus is the proud home of The Ohio State University. Because of the large student population, many inexperienced drivers are on the road. Of 23,412 crashes in Franklin County in 2023, 29 percent involved drivers between ages 15 and 24. The sheer size of the university means busy streets in and around campus and plenty of pedestrians and people on bikes.
Summer breaks are no exception. During the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, teen crashes spike. The majority of people killed in these crashes are not the teen drivers themselves.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic
In addition to areas around campus, Downtown Columbus and Short North have a dense mix of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Drivers who fail to yield, drive distracted or intoxicated, and don’t obey signs and signals put vulnerable cyclists and walkers at risk of severe injury in crashes. High Street is one of the city’s main thoroughfares, and the intersection of High and Broad Streets is particularly busy.
Tourism and Large Events
Columbus is home to several sporting events, conventions, and festivals. Out-of-town drivers unfamiliar with the roads flock to Columbus to attend, putting others at risk of accidents caused by distracted drivers looking for their destination and those making unexpected moves.
Local Resources for Injured Car Accident Victims in Columbus
Taking care of your health is your primary concern after a car accident. However, when you are in a crash that was someone else’s fault, having documentation of your injuries and crash is critical to receiving compensation. Evidence from highly respected sources helps bolster your case.
- Columbus Police Department: The Columbus Division of Police has over 1,800 officers who often respond to car accident scenes. You can request a copy of your accident report through the department or by using the Ohio Department of Public Safety Crash Retrieval form.
- Grant Medical Center is a nationally recognized hospital with highly regarded surgical and trauma care units. It is conveniently located in downtown Columbus.
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has been rated one of America’s Best Hospitals for over 30 years. It is one of the leading academic medical centers in the nation.
- OhioHealth Rehabilitation Hospital helps those who need advanced treatment or specialized care during long-term recovery.
If you need additional resources, turn to our team. We know Ohio, and we’re here for you.
Contact Gervelis Law Firm Today
Our firm has a long history of securing compensation for car accident victims. We provide aggressive, experienced, and effective legal representation to every client who partners with us. You are never just a file number. We provide personalized attention from the time you call us until the completion of your case and will keep you informed at every step of your claim. That’s the Gervelis Guarantee.
Call us today at 866-622-4096 or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
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