Ohio Personal Injury Laws, Deadlines and Local Guides

Personal injury claims in Ohio

This is the Ohio hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 447 Ohio communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Ohio gives injured people two years to file most personal injury lawsuits (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A)) and a different deadline for medical malpractice (one year (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.113(A)), which a written notice to the provider can extend by up to 180 days). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Ohio is an at-fault auto insurance state with minimum liability limits of 25/50/25. Injury cases are tried in the Court of Common Pleas of the county where the accident happened, and work injuries must be reported to your employer promptly.

Ohio injury law at a glance

Personal injury deadline: two years from the injury (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A))
Medical malpractice deadline: one year (discovery-rule exceptions)
Fault rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Auto insurance: At-fault
Minimum auto liability: 25/50/25
Trial court: County Court of Common Pleas
Workers' compensation: Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Workers' comp claim deadline: About one year

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Ohio injury guides by county

Every Ohio county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.

Largest communities in Ohio

More Ohio city guides: Lima, OH, Marion, OH.

Ohio cities with the most fatal crashes, 2019-2023

These Ohio communities recorded the most fatal crashes coded to them in NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2019 through 2023. Each community page breaks down its own numbers by year, time of day and road.

Ohio claims by injury type

Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio?

Generally two years from the date of injury (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A)). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within one year, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Ohio?

Ohio applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.

Is Ohio a no-fault state?

No. Ohio is an at-fault state; the negligent driver's liability insurance (minimum 25/50/25) is the primary source of compensation.

Where are injury lawsuits filed in Ohio?

In the Court of Common Pleas of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.

How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Ohio?

Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Ohio.

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Ready to share what happened in Ohio?

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Ask Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.