Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH

Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH

Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH

Drunk driving is universally frowned upon for good reason, but it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when drunk driving fatalities and injuries represented a far greater percentage of accident deaths. Although progress has been made over the past couple decades, society is still far from eliminating these avoidable and tragic accidents.

Ohio State Highway Patrol has a convenient dashboard for tracking accidents that allows residents to easily see injury and fatality accident stats. It shows that between March 1, 2022 and March 26, 2023 there were an estimated 365 drunk driving fatality crashes and another 860 alcohol-related crashes that resulted in serious injuries. Roughly 7,800 more only resulted in minor injuries or property damage. That still means there were nearly 10,000 alcohol-related crashes in that state in a single recent one-year period.

The idea that drunk driving is behind us in Ohio is far from a reality. That’s why it’s vital that criminal prosecutors aggressively pursue legal action against drunk drivers and the sober people involved with and injured in these accidents seek the damages to which they’re rightfully entitled – including punitive damages.

Ohio, like many other states, only awards punitive damages if a case goes to trial and reaches a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. This makes drunk driving injury cases significantly different from traditional auto accident injury cases where both parties tend to negotiate a settlement without going through the entire trial process.

Working with a proven litigator—a car crash lawyer who has been through the trial process many times before—is vital in drunk driving cases. You can trust the Buckeye Law Group to aggressively advocate on your behalf and thoroughly investigate every aspect of your case with our experienced Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH.

Does Ohio Have Dram Shop Laws?

Ohio is one of more than 30 other states in the nation that has Dram Shop Laws. These laws allow people injured by drunk drivers to file claims or pursue litigation against the establishment that sold the drunk driver alcohol in specific circumstances. Filing a claim against a bar or restaurant may not always be an option, but it should be pursued when possible because it’s another important form of legal discouragement of drunk driving. Enforcing consequences, like punitive damages, on people who facilitate drunk driving accidents is one of the best ways to reduce the frequency of these situations.

In Ohio, the law essentially says you can hold the “liquor permit holder or employee” (bar, restaurant, etc. liable for personal injuries off the premises if they knowingly sold alcohol to a person who was noticeably intoxicated or underage.

People who drive drunk are often irresponsible in other aspects of their life as well, like not carrying adequate auto insurance. This may result in injured people not being able to recover adequate compensation from the negligent driver after a crash. Being able to pursue the business that served them alcohol may allow you to get the money you need to recover.

Pursuing Punitive Damages in Ohio

It’s necessary to clearly establish grounds for punitive damages before they can be awarded. There are a variety of specific attributes a person’s actions must include in order to qualify, including a conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others. Drunk drivers may not be acting with malice against the person they strike, but they are fully aware their actions put other people at serious risk, yet do it anyways.

The plaintiff (the injured person) must state in their initial complaint that they are seeking punitive damages and explain how the drunk driver’s actions qualify as egregious. Punitive damages are awarded via a bifurcated trial in Ohio, which means they’re decided in a second separate trial after fault has been established by the verdict for compensatory damages in the first trial. This second phase is solely focused on determining the punitive damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, the Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH at Buckeye Law Group are here to help you navigate your legal options and seek the justice you deserve. Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH are committed to holding negligent drivers accountable and ensuring you receive the compensation you need for your recovery.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH for a free consultation. We understand the complexities of these cases and are dedicated to advocating for your rights. Trust our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Cincinnati, OH to provide the skilled representation you need in this challenging time.