A Columbus personal injury attorney represents people hurt by someone else’s negligence in car crashes, truck accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, workplace incidents, and wrongful death cases. Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC pursues maximum compensation throughout Franklin County and Central Ohio on contingency—no fee unless we win your case.
Personal Injury Law in Ohio: What It Covers and Why It Matters
Personal injury law gives you the legal right to recover compensation when someone else’s carelessness causes you harm. In Ohio, that includes medical bills, lost wages, future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and—in catastrophic cases—lifetime care costs that can total millions of dollars. Personal injury cases hold negligent drivers, businesses, employers, property owners, manufacturers, and insurance companies accountable so injured victims do not bear the financial consequences of someone else’s mistake.
Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC has represented injured clients throughout Columbus and Central Ohio for years. Our practice covers the full spectrum of personal injury matters—from straightforward fender-bender claims to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving multiple defendants and complex insurance coverage. Every case is handled directly by attorney Michael D. Christensen, not delegated to paralegals or junior associates handling dozens of files at once.
We work on contingency. You pay no upfront fees, no hourly billing, and no attorney fee at all unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, and we advance every case expense—expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, deposition transcripts, court costs, medical record retrieval. That arrangement aligns our interests with yours and ensures every injured Ohioan has access to experienced representation regardless of financial circumstances.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Columbus
Personal injury is a broad practice area covering any case where one person’s negligence causes another person’s harm. Our firm handles the following case types throughout Columbus and Central Ohio.
Car Accidents
Car crashes are the most common personal injury cases in Columbus. We represent victims of rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone and intersection accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, and hit-and-run incidents on I-70, I-71, I-270, I-670, and the surface streets throughout Franklin County. Ohio’s minimum auto insurance limits are often inadequate for serious injuries, so we identify every available source of coverage—the at-fault driver’s policy, umbrella coverage, your own UM/UIM coverage, and any commercial policies in play. Learn more on our Columbus car accident attorney page.
Truck and Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial truck wrecks involve federal regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, electronic logging devices, driver qualification files, and corporate defendants with significantly higher insurance limits than ordinary passenger vehicles. Truck cases require early evidence preservation, because trucking companies and their carriers deploy rapid-response teams to the scene within hours of a crash. See our Columbus truck accident attorney page for details on these high-stakes cases.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face disproportionately severe injuries in crashes with passenger vehicles because they lack the protective shell, airbags, and crumple zones that protect car occupants. Liability disputes are common in motorcycle cases because insurance carriers exploit jury bias against riders. Visit our Columbus motorcycle accident attorney page to learn how we counter those tactics.
Head-On and Catastrophic Collisions
Head-on collisions are statistically rare but produce the most severe injury patterns of any common crash type because of the combined closing-speed forces. Wrong-way drivers on Columbus interstates and centerline crossovers on rural state routes account for many of the deadliest crashes in Central Ohio. Our Columbus head-on collision attorney page covers the unique evidence and damages issues in these catastrophic cases.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrians and cyclists struck by vehicles in Columbus crosswalks, parking lots, and on shared roadways routinely suffer life-altering injuries. Ohio Revised Code § 4511.46 governs pedestrian right-of-way at crosswalks, and violations are powerful evidence of negligence. Our Columbus pedestrian accident attorney practice handles these cases throughout Franklin County.
Slip and Fall and Premises Liability
Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall cases against property owners, retailers, apartment complexes, and businesses fall within Ohio’s premises liability framework. These cases hinge on visitor status (invitee, licensee, trespasser), the property owner’s notice of the hazard, and Ohio’s open-and-obvious doctrine. Our Columbus premises liability attorney page explains how we overcome the common defenses.
Workplace Injuries and Workers’ Compensation
Workplace injuries in Ohio typically trigger workers’ compensation claims through the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, which provides medical benefits and wage replacement without proving fault. When a third party (someone other than the employer) caused the injury—a negligent driver during a work commute, a defective product, an unsafe job-site condition controlled by another contractor—a separate workplace injury lawsuit can recover damages beyond what workers’ comp pays.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
Ohio applies a strict liability standard for dog owners under R.C. § 955.28. Dog owners, keepers, and harborers are liable for injuries their animals cause unless the victim was trespassing, committing a crime, or teasing the dog. Strict liability means you do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous, which makes Ohio one of the more favorable states in the country for dog bite victims.
Wrongful Death
When negligence takes a loved one’s life, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims under Ohio Revised Code §§ 2125.01–2125.04. Recoverable damages include funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, loss of services, loss of companionship and consortium, and the mental anguish of immediate family members. These cases require both aggressive advocacy and the sensitivity that grieving families deserve.
Other Personal Injury Matters
Beyond these core practice areas, our firm handles cases involving negligent security, swimming pool injuries, defective products, nursing home neglect referrals, and other negligence-based injuries. If you have been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, we will evaluate your case in a free consultation and tell you honestly whether you have a viable claim.
How Ohio Personal Injury Law Works
The Four Elements of Negligence
Every Ohio personal injury claim based on negligence requires proof of four elements:
- Duty — The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care (e.g., drivers owe other motorists a duty to drive safely, property owners owe invitees a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises).
- Breach — The defendant breached that duty through careless action or inaction.
- Causation — The breach was both the actual and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.
- Damages — The plaintiff suffered actual harm—medical expenses, lost wages, pain, or other compensable losses.
All four elements must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence—more likely than not. Missing any one element defeats the claim, which is why thorough investigation and documentation matter from day one.
Statute of Limitations
Ohio generally gives personal injury victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit under Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10. Wrongful death claims have a separate two-year clock running from the date of death under R.C. § 2125.02(D). Medical malpractice claims have a one-year limit (with a four-year statute of repose) under R.C. § 2305.113. Product liability claims generally run two years, with a ten-year statute of repose. Claims against the State of Ohio, municipalities, and government entities involve much shorter notice requirements and additional procedural hurdles—and missing those notice deadlines can bar the case entirely, even before the standard SOL would expire.
Ohio’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence system under Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent—the so-called “51 percent bar.” Your recovery is reduced by your assigned percentage of fault. If you are 20 percent responsible on a $100,000 verdict, you recover $80,000. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.
Insurance carriers exploit comparative negligence aggressively. Adjusters routinely argue that the injured plaintiff was distracted, speeding, failed to look both ways, or otherwise contributed to the incident. Defending against shared-fault arguments is one of the most important things a personal injury attorney does because a few percentage points can mean tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Damages You Can Recover
Ohio personal injury damages fall into three categories: economic, non-economic, and (in egregious cases) punitive.
Economic damages compensate measurable financial losses—past and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, household services the victim can no longer perform, vehicle repair or replacement, and other out-of-pocket costs. Economic damages are not capped under Ohio law.
Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Ohio caps non-economic damages under Ohio Revised Code § 2315.18 at the greater of $250,000 or three times economic damages, with an overall ceiling of $350,000 per plaintiff and $500,000 per occurrence. The cap does not apply to catastrophic injuries—permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of a limb, loss of a bodily organ system, or permanent injury preventing self-care—which is why proper medical documentation matters so much in serious injury cases.
Punitive damages punish defendants whose conduct was malicious, fraudulent, or showed conscious disregard for safety—drunk drivers, drivers fleeing police, property owners who concealed known hazards, manufacturers who hid product defects. Punitive damages are capped at two times compensatory damages under R.C. § 2315.21, with additional limits for individual and small business defendants. Recovery requires clear and convincing evidence of the egregious conduct.
The Personal Injury Claims Process in Columbus
Personal injury cases follow a generally predictable path, though timelines vary based on injury severity, liability disputes, and whether litigation is required. Most cases resolve in six months to two years; complex catastrophic cases can take longer.
Step 1: Free Initial Consultation
Every case begins with a free case evaluation. We review the incident, examine available evidence, assess injuries, identify potential defendants, and explain your legal options clearly. The consultation costs nothing and creates no obligation. Bring everything you have—police reports, photos, insurance correspondence, medical records, witness contact information—and we will tell you honestly whether you have a viable case and what it may be worth.
Step 2: Investigation and Evidence Preservation
Once retained, we move immediately to preserve evidence: police reports, scene photos, surveillance video (often overwritten within days), witness statements, vehicle event data recorder downloads, employer records, medical documentation, and any other proof relevant to liability and damages. The speed of this early work directly determines case strength months later when the insurer raises defenses.
Step 3: Medical Treatment and Damages Documentation
You focus on recovery while we coordinate with your treating physicians to obtain complete medical records, imaging studies, and prognosis statements. For serious or permanent injuries, we retain life care planners and economists to project future medical costs and lost earning capacity. Following the treatment plan your doctors recommend is critical—both medically and legally. Gaps in treatment, missed appointments, and discharge against medical advice all become defense exhibits.
Step 4: Demand and Settlement Negotiation
Once you reach maximum medical improvement and damages are fully developed, we prepare a comprehensive demand package and present it to the insurance carrier. The demand details liability evidence, medical treatment, total damages, and the legal basis for the claim. Adjusters rarely accept initial demands. We negotiate aggressively, counter lowball offers with evidence and legal argument, and many cases settle at this stage on terms that fully compensate the client.
Step 5: Litigation
When insurers refuse to negotiate fairly, we file a lawsuit in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas or appropriate venue. Litigation includes written discovery, document production, depositions of parties and witnesses, expert disclosures, and motion practice. Many cases settle during or after discovery as the defense sees the strength of the evidence.
Step 6: Mediation and Trial
Most courts require mediation before trial, and a substantial percentage of cases resolve in mediation. When settlement remains impossible, we try the case to a Franklin County jury. Trial readiness improves settlements throughout the case because adjusters track which firms try cases and which always settle—and they price their offers accordingly.
How Insurance Companies Fight Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury cases are fundamentally disputes with insurance carriers, not individual defendants. Insurers are profit-driven businesses, and their adjusters are trained to minimize what they pay on every claim. Understanding their playbook is the first step to defeating it.
The Quick Lowball Offer
Within days of the incident, the adjuster often calls offering a fast settlement—frequently before you have seen the full extent of your injuries or finished treatment. The offer sounds reasonable in the moment because you have medical bills piling up. It is almost always a fraction of what the claim is actually worth, and accepting it permanently releases the carrier from all future liability. Never accept an early settlement offer before consulting an attorney.
The Recorded Statement Trap
Adjusters routinely ask for “just a quick recorded statement” early in the claim. The statement is recorded for one reason: to lock you into a version of events the carrier can use against you later if your account evolves as you remember more or your injuries develop. You generally have no obligation to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Decline politely and refer the request to your attorney.
Surveillance and Social Media Monitoring
Insurance defense firms routinely hire investigators to surveil personal injury plaintiffs—video of you carrying groceries, lifting children, or doing yard work becomes a defense exhibit at trial. Carriers also monitor social media for posts that contradict claimed limitations. Once a claim is filed, assume everything you post is discoverable, and lock down your accounts.
Aggressive Medical Record Requests
Carriers demand comprehensive medical authorizations seeking decades of records, fishing for any pre-existing condition they can use to argue your injuries were not caused by the incident. Our role is to limit those releases to relevant records, protect your privacy, and reframe pre-existing conditions through Ohio’s “eggshell plaintiff” doctrine—defendants take victims as they find them, and aggravation of a pre-existing condition is fully compensable.
Delaying Tactics
Adjusters know that injured plaintiffs facing medical bills and lost wages have financial pressure to settle. Delay is a negotiation tactic. We push cases forward aggressively—internal deadlines, prompt responses, and the credible threat of litigation—precisely because the carrier benefits from every month of delay.
Liens, Subrogation, and What You Actually Take Home
A common surprise in personal injury cases is that the gross settlement is not what the client actually receives. Several parties may have legal rights to be paid out of the recovery before the client sees a dollar, and managing those obligations is part of competent representation.
- Health insurance subrogation — Many group health plans assert subrogation rights to be reimbursed for medical bills they paid on your behalf. ERISA-governed self-funded plans have particularly strong rights that vary substantially based on the plan language.
- Medicare and Medicaid — Federal law gives Medicare and Medicaid super-priority recovery rights against personal injury settlements. Medicare Set-Aside arrangements may be required in certain cases. These obligations cannot be ignored without serious consequences.
- Hospital liens under R.C. § 2305.27 — Ohio law allows hospitals to file liens against personal injury settlements for the value of services provided to the injured patient. Lien validity and amount are negotiable in many cases.
- Workers’ compensation subrogation — When a workplace injury also involves a third-party tortfeasor, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has subrogation rights to be reimbursed for benefits paid.
- Child support and tax liens — Outstanding child support obligations and certain tax liens may attach to personal injury proceeds.
We negotiate liens and subrogation claims as part of the case, often reducing those obligations significantly through legal arguments and settlement leverage. The goal is not just maximum gross settlement—it is maximum net recovery to the client.
Why Choose Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC
Direct Attorney Access
Clients work directly with their attorney throughout the case—not a rotating cast of paralegals or junior associates juggling dozens of files. Personal injury cases turn on credibility, strategic judgment, and consistent attention at every stage, and that work cannot be delegated. You communicate directly with your lawyer, get prompt responses to your questions, and stay informed at every step.
Local Knowledge of Columbus Courts
Our practice is anchored in Columbus and Franklin County. That local focus means familiarity with the judges who will hear your case, the defense firms representing the insurance carriers, the local insurance adjusters who handle Central Ohio claims, and the expert witnesses—accident reconstructionists, life care planners, medical experts—whose testimony makes catastrophic injury cases work.
Contingency Fee with All Expenses Advanced
We handle every personal injury case on a contingency fee basis. No upfront fee. No hourly billing. No fee at all unless we recover compensation. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, and we advance every case expense—you do not get an invoice for expert witnesses, court costs, or accident reconstruction. Recovery is risk-free for the client.
Trial-Ready Reputation
Most personal injury cases settle, but the settlements that fully compensate clients come from firms that insurers know will try cases. We prepare every case for trial from day one. That preparation produces leverage during negotiations and the courtroom credibility to walk away from inadequate offers when necessary.
Personalized Attention to Catastrophic Cases
Catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases demand both substantial resources and the kind of personal attention large-volume settlement mills cannot provide. We accept fewer cases than national volume firms specifically so we can devote the resources serious cases require—from accident reconstruction and biomechanical experts to life care planners and forensic economists.
Serving Columbus, Franklin County, and Central Ohio
Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC represents personal injury victims throughout Columbus and Central Ohio. We handle cases from Franklin County and the surrounding communities—including Dublin, Westerville, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Grove City, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Whitehall, New Albany, Worthington, and Bexley—as well as the outlying communities in Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties. Our office is located at 3341 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43204.
What Makes a Strong Personal Injury Case
Not every injury supports a viable personal injury claim. Strong cases generally share certain characteristics, and understanding them helps potential clients evaluate their own situations honestly.
- Clear liability — Someone else’s negligence is documented or provable, with police reports, witnesses, video, or physical evidence supporting the account.
- Documented injuries — Prompt medical evaluation and consistent treatment create the medical record that supports causation and damages.
- Meaningful damages — Significant medical bills, lost wages, and impact on daily life justify the time and cost of litigation. Very minor injuries with minimal treatment may not warrant the effort.
- Available insurance or assets — The at-fault party has insurance coverage or recoverable assets sufficient to satisfy a judgment. An empty judgment is no better than no judgment at all.
- Timely filing — The case is brought within the applicable statute of limitations with evidence still available for preservation.
We evaluate these factors during the free initial consultation and tell potential clients honestly whether their case is one we believe we can pursue successfully. Saying no when a case is weak is part of being honest with clients—and the willingness to do so is what makes a “yes” meaningful.
Contact a Columbus Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence in Columbus or anywhere in Central Ohio, Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. The medical bills are accumulating, the insurance adjuster is calling, and the deadline clock is already running—every day matters.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations and handle every personal injury case on contingency. There is no risk in learning what your case may be worth and how we can help. Evidence disappears, witnesses move on, surveillance video is overwritten, and statutory deadlines run—the sooner you call, the stronger your position will be.
Contact Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC today or call 866-866-8058. Local: 614-300-5000. We answer the phone 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Columbus Personal Accident & Lawyer FAQs
What is a Personal Injury Case in Ohio?
A personal injury case in Ohio is a civil lawsuit seeking compensation when someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act causes you physical, emotional, or financial harm. Common examples include car accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, workplace injuries, and wrongful death cases. Most personal injury claims are based on negligence, requiring proof of duty, breach, causation, and damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Ohio?
Ohio gives you two years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits under R.C. § 2305.10. Wrongful death claims have a separate two-year clock from the date of death. Medical malpractice claims have a one-year limit. Claims against government entities require notice within much shorter periods. Missing the applicable deadline almost always bars recovery entirely.
How Much Does a Columbus Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC handles personal injury cases on contingency—you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, and we advance all case expenses including expert witnesses, court costs, and investigation. There is no upfront cost, no hourly billing, and no risk to the client.
What is Comparative Negligence in Ohio?
Comparative negligence under R.C. § 2315.33 allows you to recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault—if you are 20 percent responsible on a $100,000 verdict, you receive $80,000. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers exploit this rule to reduce payouts.
Should I Accept the Insurance Company's First Settlement Offer?
Almost never—initial insurance offers are routinely a fraction of what claims are actually worth. Adjusters know that injured victims facing medical bills are financially pressured to settle fast. Once you accept and sign a release, you cannot pursue additional compensation even if injuries worsen or new damages emerge. Always consult a personal injury attorney before accepting any offer.
Do I Have to Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company?
You generally have no obligation to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Recorded statements exist primarily to lock you into a version of events that can be used against you later. You may have a contractual obligation to cooperate with your own insurer, but even then, having an attorney present protects your interests. Decline and refer requests to counsel.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take to Resolve in Columbus?
Most Columbus personal injury cases resolve within six months to two years, depending on injury severity, liability disputes, and whether litigation is required. Simple cases with clear liability and moderate injuries may settle in months. Catastrophic injury cases involving extensive treatment, multiple defendants, or disputed liability often take two to three years through trial if necessary.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
You can still recover compensation in Ohio as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. Even if the insurance company argues you contributed to the incident, an experienced attorney can defend against shared-fault arguments and minimize the percentage assigned to you—which directly affects your recovery.
What if My Injuries Don't Appear Until Days After the Accident?
Delayed injury symptoms are common and remain fully compensable under Ohio law. Adrenaline masks pain at the scene, and conditions like traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, herniated discs, and soft tissue damage may take 24 to 72 hours to manifest. Seek medical evaluation promptly when symptoms appear and tell every treating provider about the recent incident.
Ohio Personal Accident Resources:
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