Laura Kuhl is a content editor, writer and social media manager with ten years of experience in the legal, finance, and insurance fields. She started her career as a movie review writer in Wilmington, NC, after earning her M.A. at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a featured legal and business writer on Free Advice and PotNetwork News.
Laura Kuhl
Laura Kuhl is a content editor, writer and social media manager with ten years of experience in the legal, finance, and insurance fields. She started her career as a movie review writer in Wilmington, NC, after earning her M.A. at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a featured legal and business writer on Free Advice and PotNetwork News.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Reviewed
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Motorcycle accidents have increased across the country, with 5,579 deaths in 2020 alone, the highest number of fatalities since 1975. In Ohio, Franklin County—including Columbus—sees the second most motorcycle crashes (second only to Cuyahoga County).
Unfortunately, since Ohio laws do not require helmets, many motorcycle accident victims in Columbus suffer expensive and life-changing brain injuries.
While you focus on recovering, you’ll need an experienced attorney to help protect your best interests. We’ve put together a guide to the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Columbus with insight into how Ohio motorcycle laws impact your case.
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Best Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Columbus
Compare Our Top Attorneys
Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
How to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is one of the most populated cities and sees more auto and motorcycle collisions than its neighbors. If you’ve been injured and need to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, scroll down to learn more about the motorcycle laws in Ohio.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help you navigate this legal scene and negotiate with insurance companies and bike manufacturers on your behalf.
Ohio Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations are in place in every state and typically last two to three years for motorcycle accident cases. Anyone injured in a motorcycle accident in Ohio has two years to file an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Ohio State Motorcycle Laws
Motorcycle laws vary by state, and Ohio has its own unique requirements that local and visiting drivers must adhere to:
- Modified comparative negligence determines fault. The law considers drivers or motorcyclists at fault if they’re found to be at least 51% responsible for the collision.
- Lane sharing is legal. No more than two motorcyclists can ride side-by-side in a single lane.
- Lane splitting is illegal. Motorcyclists cannot ride in-between lanes to bypass stalled or stopped traffic.
- Passengers must have a seat. Motorcyclists in their first license year or with a temporary license cannot have any passengers.
- Safety glasses or goggles are required at all times. You can install a glass shield on the front of your motorcycle in place of glasses or goggles.
- Helmets are only required during the first year and for teenage drivers. Did you know you don’t need a motorcycle helmet in Ohio? Only motorcyclists under 18 and those in their first license year must wear one.
- Headphones are illegal. Motorcyclists cannot wear earphones, headphones, or earbuds, but helmets equipped with speakers are acceptable.
Ohio Fault Laws
Ohio is an at-fault state, meaning the negligent driver is responsible for the accident. Insurance companies send claims adjusters to investigate the damage, including police reports, photographs, witness testimony, and more, to help determine which drivers are responsible and how much of the damage was caused by their individual negligence.
Because the law follows a modified comparative negligence model, you must be less than 50% responsible to recover damages. Any percentage of the accident that is your fault will be deducted from the settlement.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
You are likely entitled to some form of compensation if you were injured while on a motorcycle. Even the smallest sports car is five times the weight of an average motorcycle, making it the automobile driver’s responsibility to look out for cyclists on the road.
A motorcycle accident attorney will help you understand how comparative negligence applies to your case and broker a fair settlement to recover the money you need to pay expensive medical bills.
Even if you are found at fault (or partially at fault) for a collision, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers can deal with unresponsive or otherwise difficult insurance companies on your behalf. In most cases, an experienced lawyer can negotiate with insurers without ever entering a courtroom.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Columbus, OH
Law offices invest millions of dollars every year on ad campaigns, so you’ve probably seen plenty of Columbus attorneys shouting to call them over the other guys. Don’t just trust the ads—there are many ways to choose the best motorcycle accident lawyer.
Visit websites, research testimonials, and ask people you know to recommend a lawyer they’ve worked with in the past. Use these tips to be proactive and have an attorney in mind in case the impossible happens:
- Look for lawyers who specialize in motorcycle accidents. Attorneys experienced in motorcycle collisions will better understand your injuries and experience.
- Look for accident lawyers who are accessible. If you prefer working directly with an attorney instead of a paralegal or an assistant, focus on smaller law offices in the Columbus area.
- Look for attorneys who work on contingency. The best motorcycle accident lawyers in Columbus will work on a contingency basis and take their fees from your settlement only if they win your case.
Methodology
To come up with the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Columbus, OH in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & Honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are most lawyer fees for a motorcycle accident in Ohio?
The standard lawyer fee for accidents is one-third of the settlement (33%), and most motorcycle accident lawyers in Ohio take between 33% and 40%. If your case goes to trial, your attorney will only take their fee from the verdict if you win, but motorcycle accident cases are usually settled outside of the courtroom.
How much are motorcycle accident settlements in Columbus?
In Ohio, compensation is contingent upon the fault of each party involved. So, personal injury settlements vary based on the extent of injuries and fault. Your settlement may be more or less based on your level of responsibility for the accident. However, state law caps pain and suffering settlements and other non-economic damages at $250,000 or three times your economic damages, depending on which is higher.
What should I do after a motorcycle accident?
Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured or killed. If possible, document the scene by taking photos of the damage and recording witness testimony. Ask for copies of all medical and police reports to show to your insurance company.
