Columbus Personal Injury Attorney
Catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths demand more than legal representation—they require advocates willing to challenge powerful institutions, pursue systemic reform, and reject settlements that leave families with less than full justice.
For over three decades, Cooper Elliott has built a reputation in Franklin County and across Ohio for taking on well-funded opponents who expect victims to give up—and refusing to back down when it matters most.
Many law firms talk about fighting for their clients. We let our actions speak—showing up prepared for trial, investing substantial resources in complex litigation, and pursuing outcomes that protect families today and prevent tragedies tomorrow.
Discover why families across Ohio choose Cooper Elliott when everything is on the line.
In The News Around Columbus
Recent Columbus Victories
Many Columbus personal injury attorneys settle cases quickly and move on. We don’t. We uncover failures that get missed. We take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse fair settlements. And we invest in experts, prepare for trial, and take on the city, major corporations, and well-funded insurance carriers—because we’re invested in you and your family’s future, not just closing cases.
Find out why Columbus families choose Cooper Elliott to represent them when it matters most.
Keziah Lewis:
Catastrophic injury in an amusement ride.
A survivor of the fatal 2017 Ohio State Fair “Fire Ball” ride collapse, was awarded a $20 million judgment against the ride’s manufacturer, KMG. The court ruled that KMG had known about the ride’s defect since 2012 but failed to warn operators nationwide, leading to the tragedy that severely injured Lewis and killed her boyfriend.
We took the case to court against the ride’s manufacturer, KMG, rather than solely pursuing local operators. We successfully proved that KMG knew about the defect in the Fire Ball ride as early as 2012 but failed to warn ride owners nationwide. By uncovering and demonstrating this prior knowledge, we secured a $20 million judgment for our client, half of which ($10 million) was specifically awarded as punitive damages.
$750+ Million
Recovered for Our Clients
Practice Areas in Columbus
Personal Injury
Professional Malpractice
Other Practice Areas
Why Choose Cooper Elliott as Your Personal Injury Attorney in Columbus
Defense counsel and insurance carriers across Ohio recognize the Cooper Elliott name. That recognition stems from decades of courtroom victories and a demonstrated willingness to take cases through verdict rather than accept inadequate settlement offers. When opposing parties understand you’re serious about trial, negotiations shift dramatically in your favor.
The vast majority of attorneys avoid courtrooms. Not us. Our track record includes some of Ohio’s largest jury verdicts because we prepare every case for trial from the moment we take it on. Insurance companies can’t pressure us into quick, low settlements because they know our commitment to our clients extends all the way through jury deliberation if necessary.
Catastrophic injury cases require more than attorneys. They require forensic accountants, accident reconstructionists, medical experts, life-care planners, and economists who can prove to a jury exactly what your injuries will cost over a lifetime. We bring in the experts necessary to win—because we work on contingency and only get paid when you do. That means we’re invested in your case from day one, not just billing hours.
Catastrophic injury litigation requires substantial investment—expert witnesses, accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals who can testify about long-term care needs, economists who calculate lifetime costs. We deploy these resources because our contingency-fee structure means we only succeed when you do. This alignment of interests ensures we’re genuinely invested in maximizing your recovery, not just closing files.
Our practice focuses on cases where defendants have significant resources and institutional backing. We’ve litigated against government entities, major corporations, and insurance carriers with deep pockets. These opponents expect victims to be intimidated or exhausted by the legal process. We’re not.
Complex cases involving multiple parties, institutional failures, and intricate liability questions require attorneys who know where to look and what questions to ask. We dig deeper than surface-level facts, uncovering evidence and accountability paths that other firms miss. When blame can shift between parties, our experience tracking responsibility becomes invaluable.
Hiring Cooper Elliott means accessing our entire legal team—not just the attorney whose name appears first on your file. You benefit from collaborative strategy sessions, diverse legal perspectives, and attorneys with complementary strengths. For catastrophic cases requiring sustained attention and sophisticated legal work, this team structure provides resources individual practitioners simply can’t match.
After a catastrophic injury or the loss of someone you love, everything feels overwhelming. You need attorneys who will actually be there for you—answering calls, explaining complex legal issues in plain language, and staying in touch throughout the entire process. We don’t treat you like a case number. We treat you like family. Our reputation for winning difficult cases matters—but so does the way we support our clients through the most challenging moments of their lives.
Our Columbus Team
Cooper Elliott was founded in Columbus in 1995 by Rex Elliott and Charles “Chip” Cooper. Over three decades, we’ve built a team of accomplished trial attorneys who share a commitment to protecting victims of catastrophic harm.
Rex Elliott, the firm’s co-founder, has spent more than 30 years litigating complex civil cases throughout Ohio, securing some of the state’s most significant plaintiff verdicts in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. His experience spans Franklin County courts, federal district courts, and appellate proceedings.
Our attorneys bring diverse backgrounds and extensive experience to your case. When you work with us, you’re represented by attorneys who understand Ohio courts from the inside, have relationships throughout the legal community, and bring the credibility and skill necessary to win difficult cases.
Our attorneys have clerked for the judges who will hear your case:
Abby Chin
Clerked for Hon. Timothy S. Black, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio (Cincinnati).
Kaela King
Clerked for Chief Judge Algenon Marbley and Hon. R. Guy Cole, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.
Spencer Hattemer
A Cincinnati native, clerked for five sitting judges in the Southern District of Ohio and Hon. R. Guy Cole.
Rex Elliott
The firm’s co-founder, has tried complex personal injury cases to verdict throughout Ohio—including Hamilton County and the Southern District—for over 30 years.
Testimonials
Cincinnati and across Ohio.
I was involved in a serious car accident after just having welcoming our new son into the world.
When you are at your lowest, you remember with great detail how people treat you. Sean and his team treated me and my family with nothing but compassion, grace and care.
The stress, anxiety, and fear were only mitigated by the EXTRAORDINARY passion, care, and speed this firm operates at.
A huge thank you to Sean Alto with his incredible professionalism. I never once felt that Sean and the team at Cooper Elliot had anything other than my best interest.
Thank you Cooper Elliot for being a light during a very challenging time.
Talk to a Columbus Trial Lawyer Today
When an accident, abuse, catastrophic injury, or wrongful death upends your family, you need attorneys with the resources, experience, and determination to fight powerful opponents on your behalf.
Call (614) 481-6000 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.
We’ll evaluate your situation, discuss your legal options, and give you an honest assessment of whether we can help. If we take your case, you’ll work with a team that’s demonstrated, for three decades, we’re willing to go the distance—through trial and beyond—to secure justice for our clients.