If you were hurt in an accident in Columbus or Central Ohio, Latif Law represents selected personal injury clients on a flat 33% contingency fee — no fee unless we recover for you. We handle auto and truck collisions, slip and fall cases, and dog bite injuries.
Service available in English, Arabic, and Spanish.
Personal injury is one practice area at Latif Law alongside our immigration and civil litigation work. We accept a limited number of injury cases each year so that every client gets meaningful attention from the attorney handling the file. If you have been injured because of someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to recover for medical bills, lost wages, future treatment, and pain and suffering.
Ohio's statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury (Ohio Revised Code §2305.10). Once that deadline passes, the right to recover is generally lost forever. Earlier consultation is better — evidence is fresher, witnesses are easier to find, and insurance carriers take prompt claims more seriously.
Important: Every case is different. The information on this page is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation. Statutes and procedures change. Speak with a lawyer before relying on anything here.
~117,000
motor vehicle crashes recorded in Ohio in a single recent year
Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety, Annual Traffic Crash Report
~1,200
traffic fatalities on Ohio roads annually in recent years
Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety, OSHP Traffic Crash Facts
2 years
Ohio statute of limitations for most personal injury claims (O.R.C. §2305.10) — missing this deadline extinguishes your right to recover
Source: Ohio Revised Code §2305.10
51% rule
Ohio modified comparative fault threshold — you may recover only if you are 50% or less at fault; your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault
Source: Ohio Revised Code §2315.33
33%
flat contingency fee at Latif Law — the same rate whether your case settles or goes to verdict, with no fee at all unless we recover
Source: Latif Law fee agreement
We focus on a small set of personal injury matters where careful preparation makes the biggest difference for the client.
Car crashes, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, and uninsured motorist claims throughout Franklin County.
Learn more →Crashes involving semi-trucks, delivery vans, and other commercial carriers — typically more complex and more serious than passenger-car cases.
Learn more →Falls in stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, parking lots, and other properties where the owner failed to keep the premises safe.
Learn more →Ohio is a strict-liability state for dog bites under R.C. §955.28. Recovery from a dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance is often available.
Learn more →The nature and severity of your injuries directly affects the value of your claim. Here are the injury types most frequently seen in our personal injury cases.
Concussions and more serious TBIs from vehicle impacts. Symptoms may not appear immediately — always get evaluated even if you feel fine at the scene.
Herniated discs, nerve compression, and fractures are common in rear-end and T-bone collisions. These often require imaging, specialist care, and long recovery timelines.
Wrist, arm, shoulder, rib, and leg fractures are frequently documented in crash and premises liability cases. Surgical repair significantly increases case value.
Muscle tears, ligament sprains, and whiplash injuries are the most disputed injury type. Consistent treatment records and medical documentation are critical to recovery.
This list is not exhaustive. If you suffered an injury not listed here, contact us — we can discuss whether your case is one we handle.
We handle personal injury cases on a flat 33% contingency fee. That means you pay nothing up front, nothing during the case, and nothing at all unless we recover compensation for you. When we do recover — through settlement or judgment — our fee is one-third of the gross recovery. Case expenses (medical record costs, expert reports, court filing fees) are recovered from your share of the settlement.
We use a flat 33% rate rather than the more common "33% pre-suit / 40% if litigation" structure because clients tell us they prefer to know the number from day one without a built-in incentive to file or avoid filing suit. The case strategy decision should be about the client, not the fee.
Latif Law offers a free 15-minute phone consultation for personal injury matters — email info@latif.legal to schedule. The fee agreement is in writing and complies with the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.
Email info@latif.legal to schedule. We listen to what happened, discuss the basics of Ohio law that apply to your case, and tell you honestly whether we are the right firm to help you.
We collect the police report, photographs, witness statements, and your medical records. We do not pressure you to settle before you finish treating — premature settlement is the most common mistake in personal injury.
Once your treatment is documented, we prepare a written demand to the at-fault party's insurance carrier supported by all relevant evidence and case law.
If the carrier will not pay fair value, we file suit in the appropriate court and litigate the case. Our flat 33% fee does not change if your case goes to suit.
When the case settles or a judgment is paid, we handle the disbursement, satisfy any liens (health insurance, Medicaid, hospital), and send you the net recovery with a written settlement statement.
The actions you take in the days and weeks after an accident can significantly affect what you recover. These are the most common mistakes that reduce or destroy valid injury claims.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer
Insurance adjusters are trained to elicit statements that minimize or negate your claim. You have no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement to an adverse carrier. Politely decline and call a lawyer first.
Do not post about the accident on social media
Photos, comments, and check-ins on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are discoverable in litigation. Even innocent posts — a photo at a family event while your case is pending — can be used to undercut your injury claim.
Do not skip or delay medical treatment
Gaps in treatment are one of the most effective defenses insurance companies use. If you stopped treating because you couldn't afford it or thought you were improving, document why. Extended gaps that are unexplained significantly reduce case value.
Do not accept a quick settlement without legal advice
Initial offers from insurance companies are almost always below fair value. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, the claim is permanently closed — even if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected.
Do not assume you have time to decide
Ohio's two-year statute of limitations sounds like a long time, but evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and surveillance footage is overwritten within days or weeks. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better your case documentation will be.
Note: Ohio caps non-economic damages in most non-catastrophic cases under R.C. §2315.18. Catastrophic-injury exceptions exist. We will explain how the caps apply to your specific case.
Ohio uses a modified comparative fault system. If you are found to be partially at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. Critically, if you are found to be more than 50% responsible for your own injury, you recover nothing. This means insurance companies aggressively investigate whether you contributed to the accident — and why having legal representation early matters.
Ohio law requires auto insurers to offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, though drivers may reject it in writing. If you were hit by a driver with no insurance or inadequate coverage, your own UM/UIM policy is often the primary source of recovery. We routinely review all applicable policies — yours, the at-fault driver's, and any umbrella policies — to identify every available source of compensation.
In most non-catastrophic personal injury cases, Ohio caps non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life) at the greater of $250,000 or three times your economic damages, up to $350,000 per plaintiff. Catastrophic injuries — permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, loss of a bodily organ — are exempt from this cap. We will analyze how the cap applies to your specific circumstances.
When a personal injury case resolves, any health insurer, Medicaid program, or hospital that paid for your treatment may have a right to reimbursement from your recovery — called a lien. Negotiating liens down is a standard part of what we do at settlement. The goal is to maximize what you take home, not just the gross settlement amount.
Most personal injury cases settle without a lawsuit. We file suit only when the insurance carrier refuses to pay reasonable value or when the statute of limitations is approaching. Our flat 33% fee is the same either way.
Med-pay coverage on your auto policy and your health insurance are usually the first sources of payment. We help coordinate billing and address denied claims. Liens (health insurer, Medicaid, hospital) are negotiated and satisfied at settlement.
Yes. You have the right to choose and change counsel. The original firm may have a quantum meruit claim against the eventual recovery, but that is between the lawyers, not your responsibility to pay separately.
Pre-suit settlement typically takes 6–12 months after you finish treating. Cases that go to litigation generally take 12–24 months. We will give you a realistic timeline based on the specific facts of your case.
Workplace injuries usually fall under Ohio workers' compensation, which is a separate system. We do not handle BWC claims, but we are happy to refer you to a workers' compensation attorney we trust. If your work injury was caused by a third party (not your employer), a separate personal injury claim may also be available.
A settlement is a voluntary agreement between you and the at-fault party (or their insurer) to resolve the claim for an agreed amount. A verdict is a decision by a jury or judge after trial. The vast majority of personal injury cases — well over 90% — resolve by settlement before trial. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, because that preparation is what produces fair settlement offers.
Ohio does not use a fixed formula for non-economic damages. Factors include the nature and severity of the injury, the duration of recovery, whether the injury is permanent, how it has affected your daily life and relationships, and the credibility of medical documentation. Ohio caps non-economic damages in most non-catastrophic cases under O.R.C. §2315.18; catastrophic injuries are exempt from the cap.
Yes. If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is typically your primary source of recovery. If the other driver has insurance but not enough to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can make up the difference. We review all applicable policies — yours and any household policies — to identify every available source.
A police report is strong evidence but not legally required to pursue a claim. What matters most is documentation: photos of the scene and vehicles, witness contact information, your medical records, and a consistent account of what happened. If no report was filed, we can work with what is available and advise you on next steps.
Probably not. Most personal injury cases settle before trial, often without a lawsuit ever being filed. We file suit when the insurance carrier refuses to pay fair value or when the statute of limitations requires it. Our flat 33% contingency fee is the same regardless of whether the case settles early or goes to verdict.
Columbus is Ohio's largest city and one of the fastest-growing metros in the Midwest. High traffic volume, active construction corridors, and a growing population create a steady stream of accident and injury cases in Franklin County and surrounding counties.
The I-70/I-71 interchange (the "Spaghetti Stack"), I-270 outer belt, SR-315, US-23, and US-33 through Dublin and Hilliard are among the highest-crash-volume corridors in the Columbus metro. Rear-end collisions at congested merge points and high-speed T-bone crashes at interchange ramps are the dominant crash patterns. Construction zone crashes add another layer — Ohio law doubles fines in marked construction zones, but enforcement does not prevent serious injuries.
Personal injury lawsuits in Columbus are typically filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Civil Division (345 S. High St., Columbus OH 43215), or in Franklin County Municipal Court for smaller claims. Case management timelines, local rules for expert disclosure, and assigned judge practices all affect litigation strategy. We practice regularly in both courts and tailor our approach accordingly.
OhioHealth Grant Medical Center (Level I Trauma Center, 111 S. Grant Ave.) and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Level I Trauma Center, 410 W. 10th Ave.) are the primary trauma centers serving accident victims in the Columbus metro. Nationwide Children's Hospital handles pediatric trauma. Initial emergency records from these facilities are typically the foundation of the medical evidence in any Columbus injury case.
Crashes on Ohio highways are handled by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Columbus city streets are covered by Columbus Division of Police (CPD). Crash reports from both can be ordered online through the Ohio State Highway Patrol's crash report portal and CPD's records unit. Report availability typically takes 5–10 business days post-crash. We obtain reports on behalf of our clients as part of our investigation.
Personal injury representation throughout the greater Columbus metro area:
In-depth articles from Attorney Ali Latif on car accidents, dog bites, settlement timelines, and your rights under Ohio law.
Step-by-step guide for Columbus drivers after a crash — what to document, what not to say to insurers, and when to call a lawyer.
Most Ohio car accident claims settle in 3–18 months. This guide explains each phase of the timeline — from demand letter to check — and what causes delays.
No two Ohio car accident settlements are alike. Key factors — injuries, fault percentage, insurance limits — determine what your claim is worth.
Ohio dog bite law holds owners strictly liable regardless of the dog's history. Columbus attorney explains how to file a claim and what victims recover.
Free 15-min phone consult — email info@latif.legal. Flat 33% contingency. No fee unless we recover.