Gary Cowan

For Gary Cowan, personal injury law is about much more than understanding legal statutes. It is about mastering the science of injury itself. Since joining Elk + Elk in 2001, Gary has utilized his unique educational background in science to bridge the gap between complex medical data and simplifying it to a jury. This unique perspective allows him to articulate the enormity of a client’s loss by translating technical medical terminology into a compelling human story of recovery and resilience. In a courtroom, this ability to explain the physics of a crash or the scientific impact of a catastrophic injury is often the difference between an average settlement and a life-changing verdict.

Gary Cowan: Science-Driven Advocacy. Trial-Tested Results.

A Master of Courtroom Strategy and Jury Trials

With decades of collective firm experience at Elk + Elk supporting his work, Gary has carved out a reputation as a formidable powerhouse in the Ohio legal community. His career is defined by an incredible level of courtroom experience, having served as lead trial counsel in more than 100 jury trials throughout the state. This is a rare milestone in modern legal practice that reflects his absolute comfort and capability under intense pressure. While many personal injury cases settle out of court, Gary prepares every single case as if it is heading to a jury. This aggressive stance ensures that insurance companies know he is willing to go the distance to protect his client’s interests. By treating every case with the scrutiny of a looming trial, he often secures better results during the negotiation phase because the opposition recognizes his readiness to litigate.

Navigating Complex Litigation and Product Liability

Gary’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation. He is a recognized authority in high-stakes trucking accidents, where his understanding of physics, weight distribution, human factors, and mechanical failure proves invaluable. These cases involve federal regulations and massive amounts of data, all of which Gary meticulously deconstructs to find where safety protocols were ignored. He also handles product liability claims, holding manufacturers accountable when their defective products cause harm to the public due to design flaws or manufacturing defects. In cases of wrongful death, Gary approaches every family with the utmost sensitivity while maintaining a fierce pursuit of justice. He has obtained record-setting verdicts and settlements throughout Ohio, proving time and again that a detailed, evidence-based approach wins cases.

Recognized Leadership in the Ohio Legal Community

The legal community has consistently recognized Gary for his achievements. He is a member of many prestigious organizations for trial lawyers, including the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Membership in these groups is limited to attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to secure significant results in complex litigation. He has also been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 in Ohio for over a dozen years and likewise he has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer every year since 2012. His work has involved high-profile cases that have received both local and national media attention, further establishing him as a leader in his field. These accolades are more than just titles; they represent a career dedicated to excellence and a track record that potential clients can trust when their lives have been turned upside down.

Compassionate Guidance Through the Recovery Process

Beyond the accolades and the courtroom victories, Gary is deeply committed to preserving the rights of the individual. He understands that after a catastrophic motorcycle accident or a life-altering motor vehicle collision, a client’s primary job is to focus on healing. The legal process can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with unsympathetic insurance carriers, hospital liens, and complex paperwork. Gary acts as a motivated and accessible guide, ensuring that his clients are never left in the dark. He is known for being a knowledgeable attorney who is always available to answer questions and provide clarity during a stressful time. He believes that transparency is the key to a strong attorney-client relationship, and he makes it a priority to be reachable throughout the duration of a case.

Gary’s commitment to his clients is mirrored by his dedication to his family and his community. When he isn’t in the courtroom or analyzing forensic evidence, he is an avid fan of Cleveland baseball and basketball and handicapping harness races. These interests reflect his appreciation for strategy, timing, and precision, which are qualities that carry over into his legal practice. He enjoys spending his time traveling across the country with his wife and enjoys American history and archeology. This balance between career and a grounded personal life allows him to bring a clear, focused perspective to every case he handles. By maintaining this focus, he ensures that every client receives the benefit of an attorney who is both a skilled scientist of the law and a passionate advocate for human justice.

Settlements and Verdicts

$2.8 Million Verdict – Motor vehicle accident

Victim suffered major injuries and brain trauma; underwent 10 operations

$2,761,228.15 Verdict – Motorcycle accident results in death

Plaintiffs were riding a motorcycle when the right rear axle broke. An auto parts store sold the defective part, the husband was killed and his wife was severely injured.

$2.1 Million Settlement – Motorcycle collision results in traumatic brain injury

Plaintiff was riding a motorcycle when he was hit by a semi-truck on the turnpike. Plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury and fractures to the back.

$1.75 Million Settlement – Trucking / improper loading accident

Severe crush injuries to both legs resulting in an above the knee amputation of left leg, comminuted fracture of right tibial shaft right ankle fracture and multiple surgeries.

$1.2 Million Settlement – Motor vehicle accident

A 74-year-old male was struck by a semi while at a stop. He suffered major injuries and was hospitalized for over four months.

$1.04 Million Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

In Wood County, our client suffered catastrophic injuries when a tractor-trailer rear-ended her vehicle, propelling it into oncoming traffic and causing a devastating crash. The impact resulted in a traumatic spinal cord injury, leaving her permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Emergency medical intervention included spinal surgery, intensive rehabilitation, and extensive home modifications to accommodate her new reality. The accident also led to the complete loss of employment and significant future wage loss.

$1.025 Million Settlement – Motorcycle collision results in wrongful death

The 42-year-old Plaintiff was killed after his motorcycle collided with an irrigation trailer that came unattached from the vehicle towing it. The pump traveled left-of-center and hit the motorcycle, ejecting both the driver and passenger.

$940,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident

Three passengers were in a golfcart that was struck by a moped in which a gas tank exploded and caught fire. Passengers sustained multiple second- and third-degree burns. They were life-flighted and hospitalized for 7 – 10 days.

$935,645 Settlement – Trucking accident results in multiple injuries

A 33-year-old male was rear-ended by another truck who failed to maintain the assured clear distance ahead. He sustained thoracic disc herniations, resulting in two spine surgeries, as well as lengthy pain management treatment.

$895,000 Verdict and Settlement – Construction site accident results in brain injury

Plaintiff was a city worker who was struck by a vehicle backing out of a driveway at a construction site who sustained a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. The settlement was with the flagging company and the verdict was against the driver.

$765,000 Settlement – Motorcycle accident results in multiple injuries

Plaintiff was a back seat passenger on a motorcycle that was struck at an intersection. Plaintiff sustained a skull fracture, multiple facial bone fractures, C1 fracture, intracranial trauma/TBI, ankle fracture and medial meniscus tear.

$625,000 Settlement – Accident and dram shop case

Sale of alcohol to an underage patron who later collides with plaintiff and is arrested for DUI and aggravated felonious assault. Victim suffered traumatic brain injury, fractured skull and seizures.

$600,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident results in fractures, collapsed lung

The 57-year-old male was a passenger in a vehicle hit head-on by a small construction truck and suffered fractures to his ribs, acetabulum, pelvis, and patella. He also sustained a collapsed lung and splenic laceration.

$550,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident

Plaintiff sustained major injuries after being struck by a driver that went left of center.

$520,233 Verdict – Wrongful death

35 year old operating a tractor-trailer crashed into the rear of another tractor-trailer as a result of the wrongdoer pulling out onto I-71 from the berm and cutting off the assured cleared distance ahead. The verdict was for $963,376 but was reduced due to the comparative fault of the decedent. Jury awarded $250,000 for conscious pain and suffering for the 5-10 minutes he was alive.

$510,000 Settlement – Serious injuries from a fall

Plaintiff was a dock worker injured in a fall when a truck driver pulled his trailer forward without permission and notice. Plaintiff sustained multiple fractures and underwent two operations.

$490,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident

Victim was struck head-on by a delivery truck – suffered a fractured femur, a fractured patella and a fractured ankle.

$460,000 Settlement – Accident at work

Victim suffered crush injury to left hand , amputation of left index finger and three operations.

$450,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident results in trauma

Our client, 18-years-old at the time, was traveling with three passengers when an 18-wheeler in the left-hand lane negligently merged into the Plaintiff’s lane, striking the driver-side door and forcing the vehicle off the highway and into the woods. A rescue crew had to extricate her from the tangled wreck and she was taken to an area trauma center where she remained for 11 days. The Plaintiff was diagnosed with severe craniofacial trauma, multiple facial lacerations, a large laceration on her neck and an eye injury. She sustained severe head, face and chest trauma, including a collapsed lung, blown-out eye socket, bleeding of the brain, fractures to the nose, jaw and eye and a severe concussion. In addition to rehab and therapy, she underwent several reconstructive surgeries.

$434,000 Settlement – Wrongful death

Our client was a passenger in an accident involving two tractor-trailers.

$420,000 Settlement – Wrongful death

55 year old female crossing an intersection with her bicycle at night with no lights was struck by a Semi making a right-hand turn who rolled through a stop sign.

$385,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle vs. pedestrian collision

A 46-year-old male was struck while placing tables back into a pick-up truck on a four-lane roadway. He sustained a comminuted right tibia/fibula fracture, left tibia/fibula fracture, fracture/dislocation of the right shoulder and fractures of L2 and L3 transverse processes.

$325,000 Settlement – Policy Limit

Plaintiff injured while driving on a rural highway in Huron County during a storm when a large 75-foot red oak fell on the roof of her vehicle. Plaintiff sustained multiple facial fractures, skull fracture and a traumatic brain injury.

$305,000 Settlement – Dog Bite

In Lake County, our client suffered a traumatic and life-altering injury when a dog attacked her, resulting in the partial amputation of her right thumb and severe puncture wounds to her legs. Emergency medical care, surgery, and extensive occupational and physical therapy were required to address her pain, mobility challenges, and functional limitations. Significant time away from work added to her hardship.

$300,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was a passenger in a vehicle that had the right of way at a major intersection in Columbus, Ohio, when a large commercial vehicle failed to stop for a red light. The high-speed collision resulted in multiple fractures, including her femur and ankle. and a settlement that accounts for the aftermath of the crash and provides the resources necessary for our client, who was completely free of any negligence, to move forward.

$300,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was a passenger struck by an uninsured motorist who went left of center. Perforated intestines requiring surgery and admission to hospital.

$290,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident results in multiple injuries

While riding his bike, the Plaintiff was side wiped by a pick-up truck. He suffered a fractured left arm, multiple abrasions, contusions, and a concussion. He underwent surgery to repair the fracture.

$282,000 Settlement – Motor vehicle accident results in cervical spine surgery

The 43-year-old male was struck by a motor vehicle, which failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign. He sustained a disc herniation requiring cervical spine surgery, as well as a right foot fracture.

$275,000 Settlement – Pedestrian accident results in wrongful death

Decedent, a 19-year-old male, was struck on the side of the road at nighttime by a motor vehicle. He sustained a closed-head injury and died six weeks later after slipping into a coma.

$260,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was passenger in a vehicle that failed to maintain an assured clear distance. The vehicle struck a truck stopped in traffic, and our client suffered a fractured pelvis, femur and ankle, requiring two surgeries.

$255,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

4-month-old back seat passenger in a car seat involved in a head-on collision. He sustained a closed head injury with bilateral subdural hematomas.

$250,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was traveling safely in Lorain County when another vehicle crossed the center line, causing a head-on collision. The crash left her with many fractured bones, requiring a 10-day hospital stay followed by extensive home health care and physical therapy to regain her strength and independence.

$245,000 Settlement – Bicycle Accident

24-year-old male operating a bicycle with no lights was struck by a vehicle at nighttime who failed to yield the right of way while making a left-hand turn. He sustained a comminuted fractured left femur, a fractured patella and torn ligaments in his foot.

$160,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

A 58-year-old female at complete stop rear-ended in a low-moderate speed impact resulting in a disc herniation at C3-C4 and aggravation of cervical degenerative disc disease. Conservative treatment ultimately requiring anterior cervical discectomy surgery.

$147,000 Settlement – Public Transit Accident

Secured a pre-suit settlement for a minor injured in a multi-vehicle accident involving a public transit vehicle. The client sustained a complex ankle fracture requiring surgery and physical therapy. The case was resolved through early mediation without litigation.

$131,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was operating the vehicle when she was struck by a driver who failed to yield. Client sustained a concussion and required rotator cuff, neck, and shoulder injections.

$130,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Plaintiff injured when his vehicle collided with another vehicle partially blocking the roadway in Fairfield County – suffered soft tissue injuries.

$125,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle that went into a ditch – sustained a fractured ankle, fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.

$125,000 Settlement – Bicycle Accident

Plaintiff was riding his bike when a dog ran out onto the roadway and caused a collision. Plaintiff suffered a right clavicle mid-shaft fracture that required surgery.

$105,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

A 90-year-old female operating her vehicle when struck by a driver who failed to yield the right of way coming out of a private drive. She sustained numerous rib fractures, a fractured sternum, and fractured ulna. No surgery was necessary.

$100,000 Settlement – Motorcycle Accident

Recovery for a motorcyclist who was struck when another driver pulled out from a stop sign and failed to yield the right-of-way, causing extensive injuries that required emergency care and surgery.

$100,000 Settlement – Car crash resulting in severe injuries

A client was struck when another driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic. The settlement eliminates the client’s financial burden by directly covering all medical bills accrued during the injury recovery process.

$100,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

Our client was driving when struck by a driver who failed to yield at an intersection. Client suffered from a fractured right ankle, open reduction internal fixation, and MRSA infection.

$100,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

A client who experienced delayed onset pain and injuries following a motor vehicle accident caused by a failure to yield secured a personal injury settlement to cover their medical treatment and recovery expenses.

$100,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

A client injured in a serious motor vehicle collision caused by another driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way secured a $100,000 personal injury settlement to cover the medical expenses accumulated during their accident recovery.

$100,000 Settlement – Motor Vehicle Accident

A 9-year-old female passenger in a vehicle that lost control and struck a guardrail. She sustained a Type II comminuted fracture of the distal tibia and a tenolysis of her posterior tibialis tendon and required an open reduction internal fixation surgery to her ankle.

**All lawsuits are different and Elk & Elk makes no representation or promises that it can obtain the same results in other cases. These results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the outcome of any future legal matter. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.

Client Reviews

Personal Injury Client Review – D’Kaia B.

I would like to thank Gary Cowan for his services he was very professional and thorough with everything he and his team kept me updated with all information and made sure I always in the loop with my case Gary genuinely cares and wants the best outcome for his clients if you are looking for a attorney to help you with your injury case I highly recommend Gary Cowan

Personal Injury Case Settlement Review – Joseph C.

My lawyer Gary Cowan was amazing in helping me with my settlement for my case! Elk+Elk is great with their clients and I would recommend them for future cases!

Auto Accident Settlement Review – Cheri M.

Elk and Elk truly went to bat for me! Gary and Tiffany answered all my questions and got the most money for me for my auto accident case!! I would for sure use them in the future and recommend them to friends and family!!!

Personal Injury Lawyer Review – R. Barnes

Mr. Gary and Ms. Jamie were very straight forward and a pleasure to work with. They both responded quickly and spoke with respect.

Commercial Truck & Motorcycle Accident Review – Kelly G.

My husband was in a very bad motorcycle accident in July 2024. We contact Elk & Elk to represent us.it was a commercial truck and trailer that was at fault. Gary and Jaime went over to top to help us through everything. We would definitely use them if ever needed!

Personal Injury Attorney Review – Alexis D.

Gary Cowan was amazing! Professional and extremely helpful. I would highly recommend

Personal Injury Case Settlement Review – Paula E.

Gary Cowan took our case and had it final in less than 7 months. The process was so easy for us, as he and his team (Jaime) did all of the leg work to obtain all of our bills and negotiated excessive bill amounts down to a reasonable amount. Office staff was very friendly. Google Review

Personal Injury Representation Review – Chad H.

Gary Cowan was amazing had awesome communication from start to finish didn’t let me down and everything in my case happened as he said it would. Would use him again and again with out even batting an eye. Thanks Gary again I really appreciate everything. Google Review

Injury Attorney Client Review – Joe W.

Thank you Gary Cowan and his team at Elk & Elk for handling my case and helping me during the process. Excellent service that I am happy to refer to anyone. Google Review

Personal Injury Case Review – Rita G.

My experience with Elk & Elk’s personal injury lawyer, Gary Cowan, was everything I could ask for to resolve my case. I highly recommend them for a personal injury case. Google Review

Personal Injury Settlement Review – Nehemiah W.

Gary and his team truly are super hero’s in business attire. Amazing work all across the board. I truly appreciate how diligently they work to make sure that my case settled. Highly recommended for any settlement case?? Google Review

Personal Injury Client Review – Marissa B.

Elk & Elk has helped me in many ways One of the best law firms I would recommend them if you have any personal injuries it takes a long time it’s definitely worth the wait thanks to Gary Cowan I was able to settle my case I’m satisfied with the outcome.

Accident Injury Settlement Review – Patrick H.

Amazing service and follow through! Paralegal Maria was amazing from the initial call to Elk & Elk. Attorney Cowan really worked for me and took the time to explain everything in detail to finish up my case! Would recommend this firm to anyone with an accident or injury case.

Injury Representation Review – Atalanta L.

I was very impressed with everything they did for me. As for answering my phone calls, and made sure everything was clear, and that I understood everything clearly… I will not hesitate to call on you again, should I need any help or questions answered.

Complex Personal Injury Case Review – Tiffany H.

They helped me get a difficult case for me settled. And I believe I got the best possible outcome. I wouldn’t have gotten even close if I had tried on my own. Gary and Maria worked hard for me, and always responded with answers to any questions I had.