Truck Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, Ohio

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions

Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, drug-related accidents, improper maintenance accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, unsafe lane change accidents

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hiring practices investigation, hours of service violation investigation, maintenance records review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation in Ohio and Kentucky, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims

Background: The team has over 200 years of combined experience in accident law and is comfortable litigating in both Ohio and Kentucky, including before the Ohio Supreme Court. Attorneys have been selected for Ohio’s and Kentucky’s Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, certified as members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and named among the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100. Charles Rittgers has more than 45 years of legal experience.

Location: 12 East Warren Street, Lebanon, OH 45036

Contact: (513) 496-0134 | https://www.rittgers.com/

Consultation: Free consultation available. The firm serves the greater Cincinnati area.

2. Young, Reverman & Bolotin

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions

Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, improper cargo loading accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, equipment failure accidents

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims

Background: The firm has fought on behalf of injury victims from Cincinnati since 1972. The lawyers have more than 200 years of combined experience. The firm offers free consultations and works on a contingent-fee basis. The firm represents clients from the greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, areas, as well as Campbell County, Boone County, and Kenton County in Kentucky, and Dearborn County in Indiana.

Location: 810 Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Contact: (513) 400-0000 | https://accidentlaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation. Contingent-fee basis with no payment unless recovery is obtained.

3. Steiden Law Offices

Practice Focus: Commercial truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions

Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, improper cargo loading accidents, brake failure accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, unsafe lane change accidents

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims

Background: The firm serves clients throughout Hamilton County, Butler County, Clermont County, and Warren County in Ohio, as well as Campbell County, Boone County, and Kenton County in Kentucky. The firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis.

Location: 600 Vine Street, Suite 2600, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Contact: (513) 621-1212 | https://www.steidenlaw.com/

Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation. Contingency fee arrangement with no payment unless recovery is obtained.

4. The Friedmann Firm

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, semi-truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents

Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, equipment failure accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, improper maintenance accidents

Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims

Background: The firm handles truck accident cases of all sizes and complexities. The firm provides free and confidential consultations with experienced truck accident attorneys. The team works to prove negligence on the part of the responsible party and hold negligent drivers accountable.

Location: 250 East Fifth Street, Suite 2000, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Contact: (614) 610-9755 | https://www.thefriedmannfirm.com/

Consultation: Free and confidential consultation. The firm serves Cincinnati and throughout Ohio.

5. Treleven & Klingensmith (TK Law)

Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence gathering and analysis, police report review, trucking company records examination, video evidence review, expert consultation, liability determination, insurance company communication and negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations

Background: Voted Cincinnati’s Best Law Firm for five straight years. The firm has extensive experience handling truck accident cases and understanding the complex regulatory landscape governing the trucking industry. The firm has three office locations in the Cincinnati area.

Location: 120 East 4th Street, Suite 1260, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Contact: (513) 999-5297 | https://www.tkcincinnati.com/

Consultation: Free initial consultation available 24/7. The firm has offices in Downtown Cincinnati, Oxford, and Amelia.

Truck Accident Laws and Regulations in Ohio

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. For other personal injury cases in Ohio, the deadline is one year. Missing these deadlines typically results in losing your right to pursue compensation.

Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Two years from the date of the accident under Ohio law.

Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims: Two years from the date of death under Ohio law.

Insurance System: Ohio is a “fault” state for auto insurance. The person responsible for causing an accident is liable for resulting injuries and damages. Injured parties can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, their own insurance company, or pursue litigation.

Comparative Negligence Rule: Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.33, an injured party can recover damages if they are 50% or less at fault for the accident. However, if the plaintiff is 51% or more at fault, they are completely barred from recovering any damages. When the plaintiff is found partially at fault (50% or less), their damages are reduced by their percentage of fault.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Ohio law requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage (25/50/25).

Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements: Commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce must carry minimum liability insurance of $750,000 for trucks carrying non-hazardous freight under FMCSA regulations. Trucks transporting hazardous materials must carry higher coverage amounts.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: Ohio courts apply FMCSA regulations in truck accident litigation. Trucking companies and drivers must comply with federal hours of service rules, driver qualification standards, vehicle maintenance requirements, and cargo securement regulations. Drivers may be permitted to drive between 10 to 15 hours depending on circumstances.

Vicarious Liability: Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, trucking companies in Ohio can be held liable for the negligent acts of their employee drivers while acting within the scope of employment.

Punitive Damages: Ohio allows punitive damages in cases involving actual malice. However, Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.21 caps punitive damages at two times the amount of compensatory damages, or 10% of the defendant’s net worth up to $350,000, whichever is greater.

Damage Caps: Ohio does not cap economic damages. Non-economic damages are capped at $250,000 or three times economic damages (up to $350,000 per plaintiff, $500,000 per occurrence), with exceptions for catastrophic injuries involving permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, or loss of a bodily organ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is Ohio’s statute of limitations for truck accident claims?

A1: Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, you have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for motor vehicle accidents. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is also two years from the date of death. This two-year deadline for motor vehicle accidents differs from the one-year deadline that applies to many other personal injury cases in Ohio. Missing this deadline typically results in losing your right to pursue compensation, so consulting with a truck accident attorney promptly after an accident is essential.

Q2: How does Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule affect my truck accident claim?

A2: Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.33, often called the “51% rule.” If you are found to be 50% or less at fault for the truck accident, you can recover damages, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $200,000 and you are 30% at fault, you would receive $140,000. However, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovering any damages. This makes establishing liability and minimizing your assigned fault critical to your case’s success.

Q3: Are there damage caps in Ohio truck accident cases?

A3: Ohio imposes certain damage caps in personal injury cases. Economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage) are not capped. Non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress) are generally capped at $250,000 or three times the 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, which include permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, or loss of a bodily organ. Punitive damages are capped at two times compensatory damages or 10% of the defendant’s net worth up to $350,000.

Q4: Which parties can be held liable in an Ohio truck accident case?

A4: Multiple parties may be liable in an Ohio truck accident case. The truck driver can be held personally liable for their negligence, such as driving while fatigued, distracted, or intoxicated. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, the trucking company can be held vicariously liable for accidents caused by employee drivers acting within the scope of employment. The trucking company may also be directly liable for negligent hiring, training, or supervision. Other potentially liable parties include cargo loading companies if improperly secured cargo caused the accident, maintenance companies if mechanical failures were due to negligent repairs, and truck or parts manufacturers if defective equipment contributed to the crash.

Q5: What types of evidence are important in Ohio truck accident cases?

A5: Critical evidence in Ohio truck accident cases includes driver logbooks and electronic logging device (ELD) data showing hours of service compliance, the truck’s black box (event data recorder) information, maintenance and inspection records, trucking company hiring and training records, cargo loading documentation, police accident reports, witness statements, photographs and video of the accident scene, and expert analysis including accident reconstruction. Because trucking companies often have rapid response teams that secure evidence favorable to them immediately after accidents, it is important to hire an experienced truck accident attorney quickly to preserve and obtain crucial evidence before it is lost or destroyed.