File a Claim

To submit a claim for damages to the City of Columbus please start by reviewing the following chart that shows the various City departments, including matters they investigate, and their claim filing procedures and contacts. A link to a fillable PDF of the Claim Form for claims involving departments that do not require you to contact 311 first is to the right.

General information about making a claim against the city and instructions on completing a Claim Form follows the City department list. 

Please note the following:

- Cities and other political subdivisions of the State of Ohio are granted some immunities by Chapter 2744 of the Ohio Revised Code. Generally, they are not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by any act or omission of the City or its employees. There are some exceptions when the city may be liable including: the negligent operation of a motor vehicle (except for police, fire, or EMS employees who are responding to an emergency); the negligent performance of proprietary functions; the negligent failure to keep public roads in repair and negligent failure to remove obstructions; the negligence of its employees within or on the grounds of, and due to physical defects within or on the grounds of, buildings; or when the Ohio Revised Code imposes liability.

- When the city has determined it is liable, the Ohio Revised Code limits the amount of money a city may pay. Ohio Revised Code Section 2744.05 states: “If a claimant receives or is entitled to receive benefits for injuries or loss allegedly incurred from a policy or policies of insurance or any other source…the amount of the benefits shall be deducted from any award against a political subdivision recovered by that claimant.” Any amount of money you received, or are entitled to receive, from sources such as insurance, is deducted from the amount owed to you by the City. The City would then only be responsible for the remaining out of pocket amounts, such as your deductible.

-If you are not sure whether the City is liable for your injury or damage, please submit your claim to the City department in question and the department will contact you (as directed above).

When completing a Claim Form:

-If a portion of the form does not apply to your particular situation, please write "not applicable" or "n/a." All details, dates, times and locations provided must be as accurate as possible.

-Please read the Attachment Checklist for documents needed to investigate your claim. These documents and requested information are necessary in order to open an investigation.

-The City will not open a claim and an investigation will not begin until a completed claim form is received.

Potholes: 

Regarding pothole and other road condition related claims, in order to recover the party claiming damages must prove that either: the City had actual or constructive notice of the pothole and failed to respond in a reasonable amount of time, or responded in a negligent manner; or that the City, in a general sense, maintains its roadways negligently.

If you need assistance completing your claim submission, you may contact the City department that will handle your claim or, if unsure which department would investigate your claim, please contact the City Attorney’s office and speak to one of the individuals listed below:

For Insurance Companies seeking Subrogation:

Ohio Revised Code Section 2744.05 states that: “No insurer or other person is entitled to bring an action under a subrogation provision of insurance or other contract against a political subdivision with respect to those benefits.”