When to Call a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

It’s that time of year when we see a lot of motorcycles on the road. Motorcyclists enjoy the freedom of the open road although there is an increased risk of injury if in an accident with a vehicle. This danger could be from a negligent driver and have nothing to do with the biker. 

Here are a few tips to motorists to avoid an accident with a motorcycle:

• Always be on the lookout for motorcycles

• Avoid distracted driving

• Keep your view of any motorcyclist unobstructed

• Continually check your mirrors

• Never anticipate a motorcyclist’s movements

Motorcyclists must be constantly aware of the risk from negligent motorists although they should not take responsibility for the harm they cause.

How Motorcyclists Can Protect Themselves

Motorcyclists must also do whatever they can to protect themselves while riding. Wearing the right protective gear is crucial to protect yourself in the event of an accident. Bikers should always wear the following when riding:

• Helmet – full coverage

• Jacket with reinforced padding

• Leather boots

• Pants with padding

• Thick gloves

Bikers should try to protect their spine and shoulder areas as they take the brunt force when thrown from a motorcycle. Bikers should also practice defensive driving techniques to avoid an accident with other vehicles:

• Never be aggressive

• Know the rules of the road

• Pay attention and scan the area as you ride

• Know your route and keep a clear view of the street ahead of you

• Maintain your motorcycle to prevent breaking down on the side of the road

If you are involved in an accident, try to call 911 and get help as soon as possible. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney should be contacted right away to begin your personal injury claim. Even if you feel your injuries are only minor, do not hesitate in seeking medical treatment. Some soft tissue injuries and whiplash may cause damage to the spine or brain that is not evident immediately. 

Call an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are able, after an accident be sure to get the other driver’s information and see if there were any witnesses. Take pictures of the motorist’s driver’s license and of the scene if you can. Do not speak to the insurance company of the other driver until you have contacted your own car accident lawyer. 

Schiff & Associates is a personal injury lawyer in Columbus, OH with over 35 years of experience. We have the expertise necessary including medical experts and investigators to help you receive the maximum compensation due to you under the law. We understand how difficult this time is and help to obtain financial recovery so you can focus on your physical recovery. 

Schiff & Associates provides free consultations and works with you on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we make a financial recovery for you. Contact the experienced law firm of Schiff & Associates for any personal injury, vehicle or motorcycle accident.

What to Do When a Car Accident Causes Whiplash

Whiplash is the most common injury incurred from a rear-end collision. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury of the neck and can also injure your spine, nerves, muscles, joints, ligaments and your brain. It’s referred to as extension-flexion injury because the head will be propelled forward in flexion, then propelled backward again in extension and may then propel forward again. This motion causes significant trauma and nearly two million people in the U.S. suffer from a whiplash injury each year. 

Signs and Symptoms When Whiplash Causes Brain Injury

A brain injury may occur when the brain is rattled against the skull during whiplash. People that incur a brain injury with whiplash may experience the following symptoms:

• Forgetfulness

• Mood swings

• Inability to concentrate

• Irritability

• Anxiety and depression

• Sensitivity to light, smells or sounds

Because an injury to the brain is not as evident as someone with a broken bone or a bleeding injury, it may go undiagnosed. It is important to seek medical care immediately following a whiplash injury as letting a brain injury go untreated may lead to long term or permanent damage. Even if you feel that you were not injured at all, you should seek medical care following a car accident as symptoms may not present themselves immediately. 

Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Do not put off contacting a car accident attorney even if your injuries appear minor as they will be experienced in helping to make sure that you have received the proper medical care and compensation for your injuries. Treatment for a brain injury can be expensive and ongoing. If this happens, you deserve maximum compensation under the law to ease any financial strains. 

The legal aspects of car accidents that cause injuries can be complex and laws vary from state to state. Consulting a personal injury attorney with experience in soft tissue injuries is the best way to obtain the settlement and financial recovery you deserve so that you can focus on your physical recovery. 

Schiff & Associates is a car accident attorney in Ohio with more than 35 years of experience in car accidents, personal injury, wrongful death and more. We offer free consultations and work with you on a contingency basis so you do not owe any legal fees unless we make a recovery for you. Contact us for help with your car accident or whiplash injury and speak with the top car accident lawyer in Ohio.

Who is at Fault in Rear-End Car Accidents in Ohio?

Car accidents range in severity from minor fender benders to major collisions causing serious injury or loss of life. One of the most common types of automobile accidents is a rear-end collision. When a driver slams into the car in front of them it’s called a rear-end collision and is sometimes written off as a minor accident. Rear-end collisions can be far from minor with nearly 80,000 reported instances occurring annually in the state of Ohio alone, which lead to approximately 20,000 injuries resulting in 60 fatalities each year. 

The personal injury attorneys at Schiff & Associates serving the Columbus, OH and surrounding areas are all too familiar with the types of serious injuries rear-end collisions cause. We have helped many Ohioans who have experienced severe injuries or experienced wrongful death due to these mostly preventable accidents. 

Who’s at Fault in a Rear-End Collision in Ohio? 

While many people think that the driver who rear-ended the car in front of them is always to blame, that is not always the case. Either driver could be responsible in some cases, depending on the facts of the situation. 

If the driver who was in the front and was rear-ended was following all traffic laws, they will most likely not be held responsible and are usually not at fault. The rear driver who ran into the car in front of them could have been following too closely or could have been exceeding the speed limit without having adequate time to stop. 

If the front driver is negligent, however, they could be responsible if they failed to signal a turn, failed to make it clear they were braking or were driving without brake lights, or if they suddenly went into reverse without paying attention. 

The most common cause of rear-end accidents is when the rear driver fails to recognize that the car in front of them has stopped either at a stop sign, stop light, when making a turn or entering a lower speed limit zone. 

Drivers who maintain a safe distance behind the cars in front of them and use brake lights and turn signals properly is the best way to avoid rear-end collisions. 

Contact and Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Ohio

If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, you may have experienced minor or serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or the most common injury from this type of accident which is whiplash. These are not minor injuries and may cause life long symptoms affecting your quality of life. 

You need an experienced car accident attorney to fight for your rights and the settlement you deserve. Serious injuries cause enough pain and suffering for those affected, seeking monetary damages for your losses will at least help to ease financial burden. 

Schiff & Associates has over 35 years of experience in getting accident victims the settlement they deserve. We offer free initial consultations and work with you on a contingency basis. Contact Schiff & Associates for a free consultation and to learn what your case is worth if you’ve been injured in a car accident in Ohio.

Why the Increase in Columbus Pedestrians and Car Accidents?

Many people are wondering why there has been an increase in car accidents in Columbus, OH that involve pedestrians. Usually when we hear about a car accident we think of two vehicles colliding or a car veering off the road and colliding with trees or structures. For some reason, in the past few years we have seen an increase in the number of Columbus pedestrians hit and killed by cars. 

In 2019 alone, there were 431 car accidents involving pedestrians reported by Columbus dispatch. Of these, 246 received minor injuries, 64 caused serious injuries and 23 resulted in fatalities. Pedestrian fatalities are increasing across the state of Ohio with 133 deaths statewide in 2018. 

Common Causes of Pedestrian / Vehicle Accidents

While every situation leading to an accident involving a pedestrian and a vehicle are unique, some common causes of these types of car accidents include:

No marked crosswalk – crosswalks marked with paint, lights or signs are much safer for pedestrian crossing.

Walking outside of marked crosswalks – drivers are more likely to notice pedestrians when crossing within the bounds of a marked crosswalk. Approximately 60% of pedestrian crashes occur when people cross the street somewhere other than a crosswalk.

Distracted walking without the ability to hear – many pedestrians are walking while looking at their phones or listening to music. People walking while listening to music with earbuds or airpods prevents them from hearing oncoming traffic and vital warning sounds.

Walking at night – there is a correlation between increases in accidents at dusk especially when daylight savings time ends and it gets darker earlier.

Alcohol – nearly half of all pedestrian vehicle accidents involve alcohol, either by the pedestrian or the driver.

Lack of sidewalk – walking on a route without a sidewalk or walking on the wrong side of the road is also a contributing factor to an increase in pedestrian accidents.

Speeding – drivers who exceed the speed limit are another contributing factor in any accident including crashes with pedestrians.

Elderly and children – children are notorious for not being careful and the elderly may have an increase in accidents due to loss of hearing and eyesight. Motorists must be extra cautious when children or the elderly are visible while driving. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian involved accident, do not hesitate to contact Schiff & Associates. Our personal injury attorneys and experienced car accident lawyers bring a full arsenal of expertise and skill to your case. We thoroughly investigate with engineers and accident investigators, including a former highway patrol officer on our team. 

Schiff & Associates will pursue the maximum compensation for your settlement through negotiations and litigation if necessary. We work for you on a contingency basis and offer free initial consultations. Contact us with any questions and to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer in Ohio to get the settlement you deserve.

Wrongful Death Attorney for Truck Accidents

Truck accidents leading to wrongful death lawsuits are the most emotionally charged of truck accident claims. They leave the surviving family with a sudden void and create many questions no matter how the accident occurred. Survivors are left to pick up the pieces and wonder how to find some form of justice. 

It is important to understand the many complex issues that come up with a serious truck accident, especially one leading to an unfortunate and wrongful death. Here are some facts about these types of truck accident claims and why an experienced wrongful death attorney is necessary: 

Wrongful Death Cases are Complex

Wrongful death cases are extremely complex and the laws vary from state to state. Never take advice from anyone other than an experienced wrongful death attorney in your state. They would be the only person responsible for giving you advice on the wrongful death statutes and case law applicable to your state. 

Attempting to deal with a wrongful death case without an attorney could, and most likely would, jeopardize the entire case. 

Evidence Must Quickly be Secured

Evidence in these types of cases will quickly disappear if an experienced wrongful death attorney is not involved to secure evidence quickly. Evidence in truck accident cases and wrongful death suits is likely to be lost, destroyed or never found without the involvement of an experienced attorney. Evidence is critical and lost evidence will risk the entire case. 

Legal Tactics of Trucking Company Lawyers

You can count on the trucking company to employ high-priced lawyers to fight your claim. While a wrongful death lawsuit has the potential for a significant settlement, the defense will use any legal tactics necessary to stall the case and limit liability. Only an experienced truck accident attorney or wrongful death lawyer on your side will look out for your best interest. 

For these many reasons, it is extremely important to talk with an experienced wrongful death attorney right away. If you have experienced a serious accident with a semi-truck or have experienced the loss of a loved one in the state of Ohio, contact Schiff & Associates today. 

Schiff & Associates offers free initial case evaluations and representation on a contingency basis. You will not pay anything unless we successfully recover compensation for your claim. Contact us for experienced legal representation from a skilled wrongful death attorney in Ohio.