Columbus Side-Impact Crash Attorney

Side-impact crashes are the second most dangerous and deadliest type of traffic accident after head-on collisions. They are responsible for a quarter of all traffic fatalities, and they are the most likely kind of crash to injure passengers in the back seat. Children are more likely to ride in the back, and a third of all child car accident deaths occur in side-impact collisions.

After a serious side-impact car accident in Central or Southern Ohio, the Columbus car accident attorneys at Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. can help you put your claim together and represent you in settlement talks with the insurance company or litigating your case in court. After years of successfully handling car accident claims throughout Ohio and West Virginia, our Columbus side-impact crash attorney know the complexities and pitfalls of your claims and what steps are necessary to get you a good result.

How do side-impact crashes happen?

These are some of the most common causes of a side-impact car accident in Columbus:

• A speeding car runs a stop sign or red light
• A car enters the intersection before the light has turned green
• A car pulls out of a driveway, side street or alleyway into traffic
• A car backs out of a parking space without checking for cars coming down the lane, or a car recklessly speeds down the lane
• A driver makes a right turn from the left lane or a left turn from the right lane
• A driver makes a left turn across traffic, misjudging the speed or distance of vehicles oncoming from the opposite direction
• A driver makes a reckless turn, or the other driver fails to yield the right-of-way
• A driver attempts to pass a slow-moving car by driving on the right shoulder as that car is turning right

Sideswipe side-impact collisions

Some side-impact collisions are known as sideswipes when the sides of two vehicles make contact. Sideswipes happen most often when one car is merging into a lane that is already occupied by another vehicle. The merging driver might be drunk or overly aggressive, or the other driver might be distracted or drowsy and not notice the merger. Sideswipes can also occur when one driver makes a rapid, unsignaled lane change because the car ahead has slowed down or stopped unexpectedly.

In situations like these, it can be hard to determine which driver is at fault or if both drivers share in the blame. Under Ohio’s comparative negligence law, individuals who are injured in a car accident who are partly to blame have their recovery reduced in proportion to their percentage of negligence, so long as they are not more than 50% at fault. If they are more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover any compensation. Don’t let the other driver or their insurance company tell you how much you were at fault. Talk to an experienced Columbus car accident attorney for a frank and honest evaluation of the accident and what the likely apportionment of fault is.

T-bone accidents: the most dangerous side-impact crash

Another type of side-impact collision is known as a broadside or T-bone accident, which occurs when one car smashes head-on into the side of another car. T-bone crashes are responsible for more traffic deaths than any other type of car accident, accounting for 8,000 traffic fatalities each year.

The most serious T-bone accidents happen when an SUV or pickup truck hits a passenger car on its side. Because the SUV or pickup sits so much higher, its front-end impacts the passenger vehicle on the side windows and center pillar instead of the doors, arguably the weakest point of impact on the entire vehicle. Add in the heavier weight of the SUV or pickup and the fact that most T-bone accidents involve a speeding vehicle, and the results are often disastrous to the occupants in the smaller and lighter car.

When the cars are the same height, a T-bone accident is less likely to turn deadly, especially if the car that gets struck is equipped with side curtain airbags. This safety feature is not standard, however, and is only present in newer vehicles if at all.

A broadside collision is also capable of causing the struck vehicle to spin out into traffic and hit other cars, pedestrians, or a fixed object such as a light pole or telephone pole. Occupants who were protected by an airbag in the broadside crash are less protected from injury in the secondary impact. T-bone crashes can also cause the vehicle that gets hit to roll over, an event highly likely to cause serious injury or death.

Another reason side-impact crashes are often more serious than other types of crashes is that they come with less warning, and the driver has less chance to swerve or brake to avoid the crash or lessen its severity.

Why hire Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. after a side-impact crash in Columbus, Ohio

Our firm has years of experience helping injured individuals recover compensation after a serious crash, including side-impact accidents and others that resulted in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. These types of accidents are complex, and the issue of who is at fault is often much harder fought than in other types of accidents. Our years of experience can be especially helpful in proving the other driver’s fault and minimizing any claims of comparative negligence, as well as documenting and proving the injuries and making a successful claim for the full amount of damage caused.

We offer a free, initial consultation and only charge a fee once we are successful in recovering compensation on your behalf. No recovery, no fee. With our contingency fee structure, you can afford to have the best representation from experienced lawyers dedicated to achieving the best result on your behalf.

Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. has been recognized for excellence and superior results by clients and colleagues, along with organizations such as Ohio Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40, America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, and several other prestigious top trial lawyers groups in Ohio and the United States, such as the Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum.

Contact Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. Columbus Side-Impact Crash Attorney to Schedule a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a side-impact car accident in Southern or Central Ohio, or West Virginia, call Brian G. Miller Co., L.P.A. at 614-221-4035 to discuss your case with an experienced and successful Columbus car accident attorney.