Motorcycle accident
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, Ohio
The firms in this guide
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.
Helmet and Eye Protection Rules, Shared Fault and Damage Limits for Cincinnati Motorcycle Crashes
A Cincinnati motorcycle crash claim starts with who Ohio’s helmet statute covers and what it says about civil trials. Ohio law then reduces a rider’s recovery by the rider’s own share of fault, limits noneconomic damages with listed exceptions, and leaves uninsured motorist coverage optional.
Who Must Wear a Helmet and Eye Protection
Under Ohio Revised Code 4511.53(C)(1), no person may operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle without safety glasses or another protective eye device. A person under 18 or holding a novice-designated motorcycle endorsement or license may not operate or ride on a motorcycle on a highway without a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet, and no one may ride as that operator’s passenger without one. Under (C)(3)(a), a temporary instruction permit holder must also wear an approved helmet. Under (C)(2), division (C)(1) does not apply to an autocycle or cab-enclosed motorcycle with the occupant compartment top in place.
A Rider’s Own Share of Fault
Under Ohio Revised Code 2315.33, a rider’s contributory fault does not bar recovery if it was not greater than the combined tortious conduct of all other persons, and the court reduces the damages by the rider’s percentage. For example, imagine $100,000 in damages and 20 percent of the responsibility on the rider: the recovery would be $80,000.
Limits on Noneconomic Damages
Under Ohio Revised Code 2315.18(B), economic loss is not capped, and noneconomic loss may not exceed the greater of $250,000 or three times economic loss, up to $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per occurrence. No cap applies when the noneconomic loss is for permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb or loss of a bodily organ system, or a permanent physical functional injury that prevents the person from independently caring for self.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Is Optional
Under Ohio Revised Code 3937.18(A), a motor vehicle liability policy issued in Ohio may, but is not required to, include uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage or both. Whether a Cincinnati rider has that protection depends on the rider’s own policy.
Cincinnati Motorcycle Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue?
Two years after the cause of action accrues for bodily injury or injury to personal property under Ohio Revised Code 2305.10(A), and two years after the death for wrongful death under 2125.02(F)(1), subject to the listed exceptions in each section. For a city vehicle, Ohio Revised Code 2744.02(B)(1) supplies the city’s liability for negligent driving by its employee, and 2744.05 deducts insurance and other collateral benefits.
Can a missing helmet be used against me at trial?
No, not under the helmet statute. Ohio Revised Code 4511.53(C)(1) provides that the provisions of that paragraph or a violation of them shall not be used in the trial of any civil action.
What must a driver who hits a rider do?
Under Ohio Revised Code 4549.02(A)(1), stop, remain at the scene and give name, address and vehicle registration number, and the owner’s name and address if different, to the injured person, the other operator or occupants and the police officer at the scene. Under (B), failing to stop is a first-degree misdemeanor, a fifth-degree felony when the crash causes serious physical harm, and a third-degree felony when it causes death, with higher degrees when the driver knew.