Ohio · Car accident rules · Updated Oct 2026

Car accidents in Ohio: what to do and who pays

When to report a crash in Ohio, how insurance works, who pays when both drivers share the blame, minimum coverage, how to get the police report, deadlines to sue and where to get help, in plain English from official sources.

See the ruledamage that requires a report
Fault (tort)insurance system
Modified (51% bar)comparative-fault rule
25/50/25minimum liability
2 years / 2 yearsto sue: property / injury

At the scene and reporting a crash in Ohio

Always stop and help anyone who is hurt. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime in every state.

When to call the police
Stop and give your name, address and plate number (and the owner's name and address if you are not the owner) to anyone hurt, the driver or owner of any damaged vehicle, and any police officer at the scene. If an injured person cannot understand and record that information, call the nearest police and stay until an officer arrives (unless an ambulance or emergency vehicle takes you away). Ohio law sets no dollar threshold for calling police. If you hit an unattended car, securely attach a written note with your name and address (and the owner's, if you are not the owner) and the vehicle's registration number in a place where it will be seen (Ohio Rev. Code § 4549.02(A)(3)).
Report to the state
No required driver crash report to the state. If you think the other driver was uninsured, you may send a written report to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (BMV) within six months; the BMV then demands proof of insurance from that driver.
Law
Ohio Rev. Code § 4549.02; § 4509.06
Official text
Read the official text

First 24 hours after a crash in Ohio

Tick the boxes as you go, or print the list and keep it in your glove box.

Safety first

Call for help

Exchange information

Photos and witnesses

Report the crash

  • Ohio: Stop and give your name, address and plate number (and the owner's name and address if you are not the owner) to anyone hurt, the driver or owner of any damaged vehicle, and any police officer at the scene. If an injured person cannot understand and record that information, call the nearest police and stay until an officer arrives (unless an ambulance or emergency vehicle takes you away). Ohio law sets no dollar threshold for calling police. If you hit an unattended car, securely attach a written note with your name and address (and the owner's, if you are not the owner) and the vehicle's registration number in a place where it will be seen (Ohio Rev. Code § 4549.02(A)(3)). Report to the state: No required driver crash report to the state. If you think the other driver was uninsured, you may send a written report to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (BMV) within six months; the BMV then demands proof of insurance from that driver.

Insurance and health

General safety and information steps, not legal advice.

Insurance system in Ohio

Ohio is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

System
Fault (tort)
PIP, benefits and when you can sue
No PIP. Ohio is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, and their liability insurer, pays for other people's injuries and damage.
Law
Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.51 (liability coverage); no no-fault law
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the no-fault states table.

Who pays: comparative fault in Ohio

Rule
Modified (51% bar)
What it means
In Ohio, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were more than 50% at fault (51% or more).
Law
Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33 (you recover if your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the others; damages are cut by your share)

Compare every state's rule in the comparative negligence table.

Who pays in Ohio: fault and payout explainer

If both drivers share the blame, your state's comparative-fault rule decides whether you can recover and how much. Enter your share of the fault and your total damages to see what the rule means. This is an illustration, not a prediction: insurers, juries and judges decide the percentages.

From 0 (not at all) to 100 (all your fault).

Repairs, rental, medical bills and other losses, before any reduction.

Modified comparative fault (51% bar)In Ohio, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were more than 50% at fault (51% or more).

An illustration from our state data, not legal advice and not a prediction of any payout.

Minimum insurance in Ohio

Liability minimum
25/50/25
Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
Optional. Insurers may, but do not have to, include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.18).
Official text
Read the official text

Numbers like 25/50/25 mean $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $25,000 for property damage. Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

Getting the police report in Ohio

Search the Ohio Department of Public Safety Crash Retrieval system by crash number or document number (or advanced search) at https://ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov/CrashRetrieval. You can also ask the police agency that took the report. The portal does not state a fee.

You can also ask by mail with our free police report request letter.

Filing a claim and insurer deadlines in Ohio

How fast insurers must act
Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, answer your communications within 15 days, decide whether to accept or deny within 21 days after proof of loss (or tell you why they need more time), and pay a first-party claim within 10 days after accepting it when the amount is not in dispute (Ohio Adm. Code 3901-1-54).

Put your claim in writing. Our free insurance claim letter lists your damages and asks for a written answer, within 15 days for Ohio where our data gives a day count.

If the other driver has no insurance in Ohio

Driving without proof of insurance brings a license suspension and license impoundment, with longer suspensions for repeat violations (Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.101). You can report an uninsured driver to the BMV within six months (§ 4509.06). Claim injuries under your own uninsured motorist coverage if you bought it, use collision for your car, or sue the driver.

Read what to do if you are hit by an uninsured driver.

Deadlines to sue in Ohio

Property damage (your car)
2 years
Injury
2 years
Notes, including claims against a government
Suits against a city, county or other political subdivision must be filed within 2 years (Ohio Rev. Code § 2744.04). Suits against the State of Ohio go to the Ohio Court of Claims and must be filed within 2 years (Ohio Rev. Code § 2743.16(A)).
Law
Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A)

The deadline is the statute of limitations. Insurance claims and talks with an adjuster don't stop it. Compare every state in the deadlines table.

Deadline to sue in Ohio

Every state limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after a car crash. This is the statute of limitations. Choose your state, the type of claim and the date of the crash to see the usual deadline and the last day to file. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

The day the crash happened.

Ohio: 2 years for property damageEnter the date of the crash to see the last day to file a lawsuit.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Exceptions can shorten or extend a deadline, and an insurance claim does not stop the clock. Check with a lawyer early.

Small claims for property damage in Ohio

Small claims limit
$6,000.

Ohio small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Small claims court can be a way to recover the cost of repairs from the driver who caused the crash. Read how to use small claims for car damage.

Insurance complaints in Ohio

If an insurer delays, underpays or denies a claim without a good reason, you can file a complaint with the state insurance regulator:

Free help in Ohio

Good to know in Ohio

  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional in Ohio, so check your own policy (ORC § 3937.18).
  • Since September 30, 2025, any person involved in the crash, including an injured person or owner of damaged property, may file the uninsured-driver report with the BMV, not just a driver (ORC § 4509.06, as amended by HB 96).

Changes in 2024–2026

House Bill 96 (136th General Assembly) amended Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.06 and § 4509.101, effective September 30, 2025. Under § 4509.06, any person involved in the crash (driver, owner of damaged property, injured person) may now send the uninsured-driver report to the BMV within six months; before, only a driver could.

Free letters

Insurance claim letter

Ask the other driver's insurer to pay your damages, in writing.

Police report request letter

Ask the police agency for a copy of the crash report by mail.

Questions about car accidents in Ohio

When do you have to report a car accident in Ohio?

Stop and give your name, address and plate number (and the owner's name and address if you are not the owner) to anyone hurt, the driver or owner of any damaged vehicle, and any police officer at the scene. If an injured person cannot understand and record that information, call the nearest police and stay until an officer arrives (unless an ambulance or emergency vehicle takes you away). Ohio law sets no dollar threshold for calling police. If you hit an unattended car, securely attach a written note with your name and address (and the owner's, if you are not the owner) and the vehicle's registration number in a place where it will be seen (Ohio Rev. Code § 4549.02(A)(3)). No required driver crash report to the state. If you think the other driver was uninsured, you may send a written report to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (BMV) within six months; the BMV then demands proof of insurance from that driver.

Is Ohio a no-fault state?

No. Ohio is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

Can I get money if I was partly at fault in Ohio?

In Ohio, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were more than 50% at fault (51% or more). (Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33 (you recover if your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the others; damages are cut by your share))

What is the minimum car insurance in Ohio?

25/50/25 Optional.

How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Ohio?

2 years for property damage and 2 years for injury (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A)).

How do I get a police report in Ohio?

Search the Ohio Department of Public Safety Crash Retrieval system by crash number or document number (or advanced search) at https://ohtrafficdata.dps.ohio.gov/CrashRetrieval. You can also ask the police agency that took the report. The portal does not state a fee.

What if the other driver has no insurance in Ohio?

Driving without proof of insurance brings a license suspension and license impoundment, with longer suspensions for repeat violations (Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.101). You can report an uninsured driver to the BMV within six months (§ 4509.06). Claim injuries under your own uninsured motorist coverage if you bought it, use collision for your car, or sue the driver.

Where can I complain about a car insurance company in Ohio?

Ohio Department of Insurance, Consumer Services: https://gateway.insurance.ohio.gov/UI/ODI.CS.Public.UI/Complaint.mvc · 800-686-1526

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

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