Columbus Car Accident Lawyer

Every year in Ohio, car accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths. Whenever these accidents happen, injured drivers and passengers must know their rights if they believe another party is responsible for causing the accident. An experienced Columbus car accident lawyer is an invaluable asset to have on your side if you or a family member was recently injured in a collision caused by another driver.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Car Accident Claims in Columbus, OH

The attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can provide confident, results-driven legal representation after a car accident in Columbus. Our firm excels at resolving complex personal injury cases involving substantial damages, and we have a strong record of successful representation extending back to 1946. With more than 80 years of experience, we are ready to provide effective legal counsel in the most challenging car accident cases.

Our team has successfully recovered more than $1 billion in damages for injured clients in Franklin County and throughout Ohio. In the past two years alone, more than 25% of the settlements that have exceeded seven figures in Ohio were obtained by our firm. * In every case we accept, our goal is to help our client secure as much compensation as state law allows for the damages they suffered.

We adapt our approach to suit each client’s unique needs and goals. As soon as you hire a car accident lawyer at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we begin investigating the accident and building your case. We can resolve disputed liability, guide you through the auto insurance claim-filing process, and build a civil lawsuit if necessary to recover appropriate compensation from the driver who injured you.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Columbus

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 264,532 vehicle crashes recorded statewide in 2025. These accidents caused 1,033 deaths, 5,957 suspected serious injuries, and 33,398 suspected minor injuries. Of these crashes, 25,050 occurred in Franklin County. Whenever multiple drivers are involved in an accident, driver negligence is the most commonly reported cause.

Ohio follows a fault-based system for resolving vehicle accident cases involving multiple drivers. This means that when you believe another driver is responsible for causing your recent accident, you need to firmly establish their liability before you can claim any compensation for your damages. You may need various forms of evidence that only a skilled Columbus car accident attorney will be able to obtain for you to build your case.

Some of the most common examples of driver negligence cited throughout Franklin County each year include:

• Distracted driving. Texting while driving, other cell phone use, and anything else that diverts a driver’s attention away from safely operating their vehicle can potentially result in a devastating accident. Your Columbus car accident lawyer will know what evidence you will need to prove the at-fault driver was distracted, such as cell phone records or eyewitness testimony.
• Speeding. It’s common to see drivers exceed speed limits on highways like I-70 and I-71, as well as on some smaller local roads. However, any speeding is potentially dangerous, and accidents resulting from speeding are more likely to cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. Vehicle computer data may record the speed at which a vehicle was traveling at the moment before impact.
• Moving violations. All Ohio drivers are expected to follow posted traffic signals and obey traffic signs at all times. Moving violations like illegal turns, improper lane changes, failure to yield, or running red lights and stop signs can easily result in serious accidents. If available, traffic camera footage can be invaluable evidence in this type of car accident case.

While most accidents in the Columbus area result from driver negligence, they can also occur due to illegal misconduct. The most common example of this is drinking and driving, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that in 2025, there were 1,090 alcohol-related accidents in Franklin County. When a driver causes an accident this way, they are likely to face criminal charges along with their civil liability for the damages they caused to others.

Proving Liability for a Car Accident

Regardless of how your recent car accident happened, if you believe that another driver is responsible for causing it, you need to hire a car accident lawyer you can trust to gather the evidence you need to firmly prove liability. Some of the evidence you need may only be obtainable for a short time. For example, vehicle computer data constantly overwrites itself with new input, or it could be erased when the vehicle is repaired.

When you hire a car accident lawyer at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber to represent you, we will start gathering and preserving evidence immediately. You can trust us to obtain digital evidence like vehicle black-box data and cell phone records, and we can also investigate the crash scene for any physical evidence that could be helpful to your case. Our firm will also collect statements from any eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen firsthand.

Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim in Columbus

Ohio law requires every driver in the state to have an auto insurance policy that meets minimum coverage requirements. At a minimum, a driver’s policy must include:

• At least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage. This can go toward the victim’s vehicle repair costs.
• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person injured in an accident caused by the policyholder.
• At least $50,000 in bodily injury liability for more than one person injured in a single accident caused by the policyholder.

When a covered driver causes an accident, their auto insurance policy can pay for any resulting damages up to the policy’s coverage limits. After your Columbus car accident attorney has helped you establish liability for your recent accident, filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy is likely to be your first option for claiming compensation for your damages.

Filing an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver may appear to be straightforward at first, but the reality is that most insurance companies do everything they can to avoid paying out settlements in injury claims. You should expect the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier to push back against your claim however they can, and some insurance company representatives may even attempt to engage in bad faith against an injured claimant.

Insurance claim adjusters are trained to use claimants’ own words against them in their efforts to find justification for a lowball settlement offer or claim denial. It’s crucial to hire a car accident lawyer to help you file your claim before attempting to negotiate with an insurance carrier. Your attorney can verify that your claim is handled fairly and resolve any issues you encounter with the insurance company.

Drivers in Ohio often have the option of purchasing uninsured motorist coverage, which allows the covered driver to claim compensation from their own policy if an uninsured driver causes an accident. If you were injured by an uninsured driver and have purchased this coverage option, it allows you to file a claim against your own policy after an accident. Otherwise, you would need to proceed with filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Building a Personal Injury Case for a Car Accident in Columbus

When you must file a personal injury case to recover compensation for your damages after a car accident, success with your case depends on your ability to prove that the defendant is directly responsible for causing the economic and non-economic damages you have cited in your claim. A Columbus car accident attorney at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is an invaluable asset to your case.

Your attorney can gather proof of liability, showing that the defendant’s negligence or intentional misconduct directly caused actual harm. Your attorney can also accurately calculate these damages and prove causation, meaning they only resulted from the defendant’s actions and did not occur because of any other cause.

Many personal injury claims filed in Franklin County and throughout Ohio are resolved through a private settlement process. As long as the parties involved in the case are willing to negotiate on mutually acceptable terms, settlement is generally much faster than litigation and provides both parties with the chance to have more influence over the final outcome. Otherwise, the court will have the final say on the matter after litigation.

What to Expect From Your Columbus Car Accident Lawyer

Any car accident has the potential to result in life-changing injuries for those involved. The accident may raise liability disputes and other complex legal questions that an injured driver will need help to answer. Working with a seasoned Columbus car accident lawyer significantly improves your chances of not only succeeding with your case but also of securing appropriate compensation for your damages.

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has decades of experience resolving difficult personal injury cases throughout Ohio. Once you hire our team to represent you in a car accident case, we will immediately begin gathering the evidence you need to establish liability, calculating your damages, and determining the most efficient path to securing the compensation you need to recover.

You can trust us to negotiate with insurance company representatives on your behalf, verifying that your claim is handled in good faith and that you receive a fair settlement offer. When you file a personal injury claim to recover your damages, you can trust us to negotiate a settlement if possible, but we are a team of seasoned trial attorneys. We are fully prepared to represent you in litigation if necessary to resolve your case.

Ultimately, the right attorney can have a tremendous positive influence on the outcome of any car accident case in Columbus. Our firm is confident we can help you achieve a favorable outcome, but you have limited time to build your claim. Reach out to Spangenberg Shibley & Liber at your first opportunity to learn how our team of experienced Columbus car accident attorneys can assist with your recovery.

FAQs

Q: What Happens if Multiple Drivers Share Fault for an Accident in Ohio?

A: If multiple drivers share fault for an accident in Ohio, the state’s modified comparative negligence law comes into effect, and each liable party is assigned a fault percentage. When a plaintiff in a personal injury case is assigned a fault percentage, they can still recover compensation as long as they are found less at fault than the defendant. Their fault percentage will be deducted from their total recovery.

Q: Will the At-Fault Driver Go to Jail for Causing My Accident in Columbus?

A: An at-fault driver could go to jail for causing your accident in Columbus based on the manner in which they caused it. For example, if you were injured in a collision caused by a drunk driver, that driver will face criminal charges from the state, along with their civil liability for your damages. Your Columbus car accident lawyer can explain how the defendant’s illegal misconduct could influence the outcome of your case and your total recovery.

Q: What Is My Car Accident Claim Worth in Columbus?

A: The value of your car accident claim in Columbus largely depends on the severity of your injuries. If you can prove another driver is responsible for causing the accident, you can seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, vehicle repair costs, and the pain and suffering you experienced. Hire a car accident lawyer at your first opportunity after the accident for a better chance of securing appropriate compensation for your damages.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Columbus?

A: You should hire a car accident lawyer in Columbus to not only increase your chances of success with your case, but also your chances of securing fair compensation. The right attorney can help you prove fault, verify that you meet procedural deadlines for filing an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit with the court, and accurately determine all of the economic and non-economic damages you are eligible to claim.

Car accidents happen unexpectedly every day in Columbus, and injured drivers must know where they can turn for legal support. If you believe another driver is responsible for causing your recent accident, our firm is ready to assist you with your case. Contact Spangenberg Shibley & Liber today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Columbus car accident lawyer to learn how we can assist you. *Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.