1. Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP – Personal Injury Division
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, intersection crashes, drunk driving accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation
Background: Major Cincinnati-area law firm with attorneys handling personal injury matters including motorcycle accident cases. The firm has offices in Cincinnati and serves clients throughout Hamilton County and Southwest Ohio.
Location: Cincinnati, OH (Hamilton County)
Contact: Contact via website
Consultation: Consultation available. Contact for fee arrangements.
2. Schiller & Hamilton Law Firm
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, intersection crashes, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical record analysis, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative negligence defense
Background: Cincinnati personal injury law firm representing motorcycle accident victims throughout Ohio. The attorneys understand Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rules and work to protect clients’ rights to compensation.
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Contact: Contact via website
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
3. Kisling, Nestico & Redick, LLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, accident reconstruction, medical record review, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation
Background: KNR is one of Ohio’s largest personal injury law firms with offices throughout the state including the Cincinnati area. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients and handles motorcycle accident cases across Ohio.
Location: Cincinnati, OH (with multiple Ohio offices)
Contact: 1-800-HURT-NOW | Website available
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
4. Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, intersection crashes, rear-end collisions, hit-and-run accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation
Background: Elk & Elk is one of Ohio’s largest personal injury law firms with over 50 years of experience. The firm serves clients in the Cincinnati area and throughout Ohio. The attorneys handle complex motorcycle accident cases and understand Ohio’s comparative negligence laws.
Location: Cincinnati area (main office in Cleveland with statewide service)
Contact: Contact via website
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
5. Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, LPA
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, intersection crashes, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, accident reconstruction, medical record review, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims
Background: Ohio personal injury law firm serving the Cincinnati area and throughout Southwest Ohio. The firm handles motorcycle accident cases and understands the unique challenges motorcyclists face after accidents. The attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
Location: Cincinnati area, OH
Contact: Contact via website
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Ohio
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Ohio has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10. This means you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Property damage claims in Ohio also have a two-year statute of limitations.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims: Wrongful death claims in Ohio must be filed within two years from the date of death under Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Status: Ohio is a fault-based (tort) insurance state. The person responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for paying for damages. Injured parties can file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance or pursue personal injury lawsuits.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar rule) under Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.33. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation. Your damages award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: Ohio requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).
Helmet Law: Ohio has a partial helmet law. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.53, helmets are required for: operators under 18 years of age, passengers under 18 years of age, operators within one year of obtaining a motorcycle license (novice riders), and all operators during the first year after receiving a motorcycle endorsement. Riders 18 and older who have had their license for more than one year are not required to wear helmets. All helmets must meet DOT safety standards.
Eye Protection Requirements: Ohio requires all motorcycle operators to wear protective glasses, goggles, or a transparent face shield unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen.
Lane Splitting/Lane Filtering Laws: Lane splitting is illegal in Ohio. Motorcyclists must remain within their designated lane and follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements: Ohio requires a motorcycle endorsement (M endorsement) on a standard driver’s license or a motorcycle-only license. Applicants must pass a knowledge test and a skills test. Completing an approved motorcycle safety course may waive the skills test.
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements: Ohio motorcycles must be equipped with working headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals (for motorcycles manufactured after certain dates), mirrors, brakes, and mufflers.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Ohio requires insurers to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This coverage can be rejected in writing but is recommended.
Damage Caps: Ohio has damage caps on non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Non-economic damages are generally capped at the greater of $250,000 or three times economic damages, up to a maximum of $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per occurrence. These caps do not apply in cases of catastrophic injuries.
Helmet Use as Evidence of Comparative Negligence: In Ohio, failure to wear a helmet when not legally required could potentially be used by defendants to argue comparative negligence for head injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Ohio?
A: Ohio has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and property damage claims arising from motorcycle accidents under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10. You must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the two-year period runs from the date of death. Missing this deadline will result in the dismissal of your case, regardless of how strong your claim may be.
Q: How does Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A: Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. You can recover compensation as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovering any damages. If your fault is 50% or less, your damages award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 30% at fault, you would receive $70,000. Insurance companies often try to attribute greater fault to motorcyclists, so having an attorney is important.
Q: Do I have to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle in Ohio?
A: Ohio has a partial helmet law. You must wear a DOT-approved helmet if you are: under 18 years of age, within one year of obtaining your motorcycle license, or within one year of receiving your motorcycle endorsement. Riders 18 and older with more than one year of licensing experience are not required to wear helmets. However, choosing not to wear a helmet could affect your injury claim if you sustain head injuries, as the defense may argue comparative negligence.
Q: Is lane splitting legal in Ohio, and how does it affect accident liability?
A: Lane splitting is illegal in Ohio. Motorcyclists must stay within their designated lane and follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles. If you are involved in an accident while attempting to split lanes, you will likely be found at fault, which could significantly reduce or eliminate your ability to recover compensation under Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule.
Q: What are Ohio’s damage caps, and how do they affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A: Ohio imposes caps on non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.) in most personal injury cases. Non-economic damages are generally capped at the greater of $250,000 or three times economic damages, up to a maximum of $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per occurrence. However, these caps do not apply in cases involving catastrophic injuries such as permanent physical deformity, permanent loss of use of a limb, or permanent injury preventing independent functioning. Economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages) are not capped.