Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Columbus OH

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Columbus OH

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s data show that there were more than 3,600 motorcycle accidents on Ohio roads in 2025 and 191 were fatal. This is not just a one-year spike. Motorbike deaths in Ohio have been rising for most of the last decade, even though overall traffic deaths are leveling off.

If you or someone you love is hurt or killed in one of these accidents, you are fighting more than just your injuries. Insurance companies and juries often decide that the driver caused the accident before they have looked at any evidence. At Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek Co., L.P.A., we build a record that corrects this assumption.

  • From the moment I walked into Mark Kitrick’s office until the day my case was settled, I was impressed by the high degree of professionalism he demonstrated and grateful for the compassion he showed. The way he managed my case was simply outstanding. Mark Kitrick was able to successfully handle a complex situation that involved litigation in two states. In the process, he made a heartbreaking situation more bearable.
    Jean W.

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Motorcycle Accidents Are Rising Across Ohio

Motorcyclists make up a small share of vehicles on Ohio roads, but they carry a disproportionate share of risk. The state now has more than 600,000 licensed motorcycle riders, and this number puts motorcycles on nearly every stretch of highway from spring through fall.

Since 2017, Ohio has recorded 1,074 fatal motorcycle crashes. Nationally, federal crash data shows that the fatality rate for motorcyclists is close to 28 times higher than for passenger car occupants per mile driven.

A common assumption is that most crashes happen at night, in bad weather, on rural roads. However, the data suggests otherwise. Most fatal motorcycle accidents occur during daylight hours and in clear weather, often at intersections that riders cross every day.

Insurance Adjusters Often Blame the Rider First

Here’s an uncomfortable truth. Ohio’s own crash data shows that the motorcyclist was at fault in 56% of fatal motorcycle crashes in the state since 2017. Insurance companies are aware of this number and use it.

That’s why, on almost any motorcycle accident, an adjuster’s first instinct is to look for reasons why the rider caused the accident. Speed, lane position, and following distance are all things that can be considered. None of these things have to apply to your specific case for the insurance company to deny your claim.

If a driver turned left across your path or drifted into your lane while distracted, statewide numbers do not decide your case. Instead, the facts of what happened on your stretch of road will.

Motorcyclists Have Full Legal Rights to the Road

Ohio law does not treat motorcycles as second-class vehicles. Under Ohio Revised Code § 4511.55, every motorcyclist is entitled to full use of a traffic lane and no other vehicle should be driven in such a way as to crowd the rider out of the lane.

That same statute cuts both ways. It also makes lane splitting and lane filtering illegal in Ohio, so riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic is a minor misdemeanor here. Drivers who crowd a rider’s lane anyway can be held responsible for what happens next.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Columbus

Certain patterns show up again and again in the claims we handle.

Left-Turn and Intersection Collisions

A driver waiting to turn left misjudges the speed of a motorcycle, or doesn’t see it at all, and turns directly into its path. This scenario accounts for a large share of serious injuries at Columbus intersections.

Lane Changes and Blind Spots

A motorcycle’s narrow profile easily disappears into a car’s blind spot. The driver checks the mirror, sees nothing and changes lanes, not realizing a rider was there.

Distracted and Impaired Driving

A driver glancing at a phone for two seconds can miss a motorcycle entirely. Adding alcohol or drugs increases the odds of a fatal crash.

Following Too Closely

Motorcycles decelerate faster than most cars. A driver following too closely can rear-end a rider before they react.

Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Losing a family member in a motorcycle accident upends more than just your finances. Ohio law provides surviving families with a path to hold the responsible party accountable, but this path has rules that must be followed from day one.

Who Can File

Under Ohio Revised Code § 2125.02, a wrongful death claim is filed by the personal representative of a deceased person’s estate for the benefit of surviving spouses, children, and parents. Other relatives may also recover, but they must show that they actually depend on the deceased person.

What Damages Are Available

Ohio has no cap on damages for wrongful death. A claim may include:

  • Loss of financial support that your loved one would have provided
  • Loss of household services that they contributed
  • Loss of companionship and guidance
  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Mental anguish suffered by the surviving family members

The Two-Year Deadline

Families have two years from the date of death to file a claim, not two years after the accident. This distinction matters if your loved one survives for a period of time before dying. Missing the deadline will almost always result in losing the claim.

Serious Injuries Our Firm Handles

A motorcycle offers very little protection for the rider in the event of an accident. This is the reality that we face in every case we deal with. Riders that we represent have suffered from:

  • Incapacitating injuries and partial or complete paralysis
  • Road rash severe enough to require skin grafts
  • Fractures and crush injuries to the legs, hips, and pelvis
  • Herniated and bulging discs
  • Severe burns and joint damage
  • Permanent scarring

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Helmet Question

Ohio only requires helmets for riders under 18 years old, riders in their first year of licensing, and passengers. Every other adult can legally ride without a helmet under Ohio Revised Code § 4511.53. Even if a rider is wearing a DOT-approved helmet, they can still suffer a serious traumatic brain injury. A helmet reduces the risk, but it does not eliminate it completely.

One detail surprises a lot of clients. The same statute that sets Ohio’s helmet rules also states that a violation of the helmet requirement cannot be used in the trial of any civil action. An insurance company cannot point to a missing helmet as proof that you caused the accident.

How Fault Is Determined: Ohio’s Comparative Negligence Rule

Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33. If you are found to be less than 51% at fault, you may still recover damages reduced by your proportion of fault.

Cross that 51% line, and you recover nothing.

That’s why fault fighting matters as much as damage fighting. An insurer just needs a jury to believe that you were slightly more than half responsible.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

The choices you make in the first hours and days shape what you can prove later.

  • Call 911 and get a police report on record, even if injuries seem minor.
  • Photograph the scene: skid marks, vehicle positions, road conditions, your injuries, your gear.
  • Get contact information from anyone who saw what happened.
  • See a doctor the same day – some injuries don’t show their full severity for 24 to 48 hours.
  • Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster, including your own, before speaking with an attorney.
  • From my first meeting with Mark Kitrick, I had total confidence in him and trusted him to guide me through this unfamiliar process of litigation. Because I am a woman of faith, it was incredibly important to me to have a person of integrity and character represent me. I found that with Mark. Until you go through something like this, you may not understand how important it is to be guided in the right direction. Mark Kitrick’s manner is so gentle, yet highly professional. He is approachable, and very sensitive to what you’re experiencing. You think of him as a friend who is looking out for you and will always keep your best interests in mind.
    Patti E.

Why Riders Choose Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek

We don’t handle every type of legal matter. Our attorneys specialize in serious personal injury cases, wrongful deaths, defective product claims and medical malpractice claims. This focus is one of the reasons why our four lawyers with a combined 96 years of experience have been recognized as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers in their fields.

When you contact us after a motorcycle accident, you will work directly with experienced attorneys who understand how these cases are handled and how insurance companies try to avoid paying out.

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Experienced Attorneys Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve

At Kitrick, Lewis & Staley-Sladek Co., L.P.A., we have represented seriously injured Ohioans and their grieving families since 1986. If you or someone you know has been injured in a careless accident involving a motorcyclist, contact us to schedule a consultation.

Common Motorcycle Accidents FAQs

Two years from the date of the accident for a personal injury claim and two years after death for wrongful death claims. Waiting to speak with a lawyer does not extend either deadline.

Yes, Ohio doesn’t require most adult riders to wear a helmet. Whether or not you wear one cannot be used against you in a civil trial.

An adjuster’s opinion is not a legal finding. You can still recover damages if you are found to be less than 51% responsible, and that percentage is determined by evidence.

It depends on your medical expenses, lost income, the severity of the injury, and the degree of fault of the other driver. Any attorney who gives you a number on the first call is guessing.

No. Ohio Revised Code § 4511.55 prohibits riding between lanes of traffic. If you are riding lawfully in your own lane and a driver hits you, that fact will work in your favor.

The personal representative of the estate can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of surviving spouses, children, and parents within two years of the death date.

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