Driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of auto accidents across our Ohio roadways. It is defined as a driver that is operating an automobile under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications. In addition, individuals between the ages of 21 and 25 are the most common age group which is caught driving under the influence. Statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Public Safety indicate that there were a total of 12,521 alcohol related auto accidents in Ohio throughout 2011. At O'Connor Acciani & Levy CO., LPA, our auto accident attorneys believe that if you or a family member has been injured as a result of a driver under the influence, the victim may be eligible to receive compensation for all losses and damages that occurred including; pain and suffering, property damage, loss of wages and medical expenses. A dedicated Cincinnati DUI lawyer could help hold the at-fault driver accountable for their actions. We offer no-obligation case reviews and we only get paid when we win.
Filing An Ohio Dui Lawsuit
When filing an Ohio DUI lawsuit, an individual must have been injured, killed, or sustained property damage as a result of a negligent individual driving under the influence. These lawsuits may come in different forms, while they are all intended to help accident victims recover for their losses and damages. Common Cincinnati DUI accident lawsuits an attorney can help with include:Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are the most common form of lawsuit filed following a DUI accident. These lawsuits provide compensation for all damages that occurred during the accident including; property damage, medical expenses, therapy, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.Dram Shop Laws
Dram shop laws protect individuals that have been injured or killed during a DUI accident and hold drinking establishments responsible. These establishments usually include; liquor stores, bars, restaurants, and clubs. They are usually held accountable in cases where a beverage is sold to a minor who later kills or injures another individual, or where a beverage was sold to an individual that was already intoxicated and caused injury or death to another individual.Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are implemented to simply punish an individual for driving under the influence. They are typically awarded to individuals with a high blood alcohol concentration or to individuals that have prescription medications or illegal drugs in their system. If you or a family member has been involved in an accident with someone driving under the influence, it is imperative to collect every single detail leading up to and following the accident. This may include; taking pictures and video of the scene, collecting witness information, collecting other drivers information, finding medical treatment, or contacting our attorneys for assistance.DUI Accident Injuries
The Ohio Department of Public Safety stated that 129,314 total drivers were injured, and 1,445 total drivers were killed as a result of alcohol impaired drivers in 2011. Notice that these numbers to not include individuals who have taken prescription medications or have illegal narcotics in their system. When a person makes the decision to drive under the influence, they are immediately putting themselves and others in immediate danger of becoming injured, killed, or causing property damage. In most cases, alcohol and drugs will affect the cerebellum in the brain, which controls the body's overall motor functions. By affecting these motor functions, the body will have trouble transmitting information which involved decision making, which will cause the individual to travel all over the road and delay reaction time. Some common injuries caused by DUI accidents include:- Broken bones
- Concussion injuries
- Internal injures
- Lacerations
- Loss of limb
- Neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Seat belt injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Death
Speak With Our Cincinnati DUI Attorneys Today
At O'Connor, Acciani & Levy CO., LPA, our team of experienced injury attorneys believe that when someone driving under the influence causes harm to an innocent individual, that negligent individual must be held accountable for their actions and pay for the losses and damages they have caused in the court of law. Our attorneys have been serving the state of Ohio since 1992, and have over 30 years of experience helping our community achieve compensation for their injuries. Some of the locations we serve include:- Cincinnati
- Columbus
- Cleveland
- Dayton
- Sharonville
- Independence
- Lancaster
- Westerville
- Lorain
- Toledo
