Motorcycle accident
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Columbus, Ohio
The firms in this guide
- Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. Call Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.: (614) 230-0634
- Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR) Call Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR): (614) 221-8081
- Cooper Elliott Law Firm Call Cooper Elliott Law Firm: (614) 481-6000
- Brian G. Miller Co., LLC Call Brian G. Miller Co., LLC: (614) 221-4035
- Rourke & Blumenthal LLP Call Rourke & Blumenthal LLP: (614) 321-3212
1. Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, product liability
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, drunk driver accidents, distracted driver accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, defective motorcycle claims
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, witness interviews, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims
Background: Elk & Elk has a total recovery of over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for past clients. The firm has a proven track record in Franklin County and throughout Ohio, including multimillion-dollar verdicts for motorcycle accident victims. Attorneys include William J. Price and Matthew J. Carty who have achieved significant results in motorcycle cases. The firm has strong relationships with hospitals and trauma centers throughout Columbus.
Location: 6105 Parkland Boulevard, Suite 200, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 (serving Columbus)
Contact: (614) 230-0634 | https://www.elkandelk.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
2. Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR)
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents on Cleveland Avenue, I-70/I-71 split accidents, hit-and-run accidents, drunk driver accidents, distracted driver accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction with expert witnesses, traffic camera footage retrieval, crash reconstruction analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: KNR has over 500 years of combined legal experience with a team of 30+ attorneys. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients across Ohio including Columbus. The attorneys have specific knowledge of Columbus traffic patterns including dangerous corridors like Livingston Avenue, Olentangy River Road, and North High Street. The firm works with medical and accident reconstruction experts to build comprehensive cases.
Location: 350 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 300, Worthington, OH 43085
Contact: (614) 221-8081 | https://www.knrlegal.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
3. Cooper Elliott Law Firm
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, drunk driver accidents, distracted driver accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, evidence collection and preservation, medical records gathering, witness statement collection, video footage retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Cooper Elliott has helped seriously injured people in Ohio recover more than $700 million over nearly 30 years of practice. The firm handles challenging motorcycle cases and works closely with clients to understand how accidents affect their lives. The attorneys manage all communications, paperwork, and legal deadlines while clients focus on recovery.
Location: 305 West Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43215
Contact: (614) 481-6000 | https://cooperelliott.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
4. Brian G. Miller Co., LLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, head injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, evidence gathering, police report analysis, witness interviews, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, permanent deformity claims, scarring claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Brian G. Miller Co., LLC provides legal assistance throughout Central Ohio and Southern Ohio to those seriously injured in motorcycle accidents. The firm advocates relentlessly for riders who are often wrongly blamed by insurance companies. The attorneys understand that even careful riders cannot always avoid negligent drivers. Franklin County has over 31,000 registered motorcycles and hundreds of crashes annually.
Location: 67 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 110, Worthington, OH 43085
Contact: (614) 221-4035 | https://www.bgmillerlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
5. Rourke & Blumenthal LLP
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, traumatic brain injury claims
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, appeals
Background: Rourke & Blumenthal is recognized as one of the leading injury litigation firms in Ohio. Many Ohio attorneys refer complex and challenging cases to the firm. Attorneys Mike Rourke and Tim Blumenthal specialize in traumatic brain injury cases and motorcycle accidents. The majority of the firm’s cases come from former client referrals and attorney referrals, rather than aggressive solicitation, reflecting their reputation for quality representation.
Location: 3825 Edwards Road, Suite 103, Cincinnati, OH 45209 (serving Columbus)
Contact: (614) 321-3212 | https://www.randbllp.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
Helmet Rules in Court, Bar Liability and State Claims for Columbus Motorcycle Crashes
A Columbus motorcycle crash claim can raise what Ohio’s helmet statute says about civil trials, when a bar that served the driver can be sued, and how much of a rider’s noneconomic loss can be recovered. When the State is the defendant, Ohio sets its own filing period and, for covered injuries, a first step through the office of risk management.
The Helmet Statute and Civil Trials
Under Ohio Revised Code 4511.53(C)(1), every motorcycle operator and passenger must use safety glasses or another protective eye device, and a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet is required for an operator or passenger under 18, an operator with a novice-designated endorsement or license, and that operator’s passengers. The same paragraph provides that its provisions or a violation of them shall not be used in the trial of any civil action.
When a Bar Can Be Sued
Under Ohio Revised Code 4399.18, for a crash away from the premises, a liquor permit holder is liable only if it knowingly sold to a noticeably intoxicated person or in violation of the underage sales law, and the intoxication proximately caused the injury, both shown by a preponderance of the evidence.
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, with no cap for permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb or loss of a bodily organ system, or a permanent functional injury that prevents independent self-care.
Claims Against the State
Under Ohio Revised Code 2743.16(A), civil actions against the State permitted by sections 2743.01 to 2743.20 must be commenced within two years after accrual or any shorter period that applies to similar suits between private parties. Under (B), for an injury covered by sections 9.821 to 9.83, the claimant must first try to have the claim compromised by the office of risk management or satisfied by the State’s liability insurance before filing in the court of claims.
Columbus Motorcycle Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue the driver?
Two years after the cause of action accrues for bodily injury 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.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, if your fault was not greater than the combined tortious conduct of all other persons, under Ohio Revised Code 2315.33. For example, imagine $90,000 in damages and 30 percent of the responsibility on the rider: the recovery would be $63,000.
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. Failing to stop is a first-degree misdemeanor, and a felony when the crash causes serious physical harm or death.