Ohio Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

When people make the reckless decision to get behind the wheel while drunk, they put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. A collision caused by an intoxicated driver can leave you with physical pain, expensive medical and repair bills, and lost wages from time off work. What happened to you wasn’t fair. You shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of someone else’s bad behavior.

Filing an accident claim allows you to seek compensation for your losses. Just as importantly, it allows you to demand accountability from the person who hurt you. The team at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured Ohioans like you. Let us put this experience to work on your case so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery instead.

Contact us today for a free consultation with our drunk driving accident attorneys in Ohio. We look forward to meeting you and hearing your story.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers in Ohio is 0.08 percent. But even intoxicated motorists below this level may be unable to recognize dangers or respond to road hazards. When a drunk driver cannot control their vehicle, they put other road users in grave danger.

Driving under the influence can lead to such unpredictable and dangerous behaviors as:

• Sudden or erratic stopping or braking
• Following other drivers too closely
• Uncontrolled acceleration
• Weaving in and out of lanes
• Swerving

As other drivers cannot reasonably predict a drunk driver’s actions, the chances for serious accidents increase exponentially. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report that impaired driving was a factor in nearly 12,000 deaths in a recent year – almost a third of the total traffic fatalities nationwide.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), there were nearly 40,000 impaired driving crashes in the state over a recent two-year period. Those collisions resulted in over 2,000 deaths and 24,000 injuries – making up more than half of all deaths from motor vehicle accidents in Ohio.

Common Types of Drunk Driving Accident Injuries

Drunk driving accidents can lead to serious injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken and fractured bones
• Back injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Facial and dental injuries

Consequences of Drunk Driving Accident Injuries

The effects of a drunk driving accident can be life-altering. Many of the resulting injuries require immediate and ongoing medical intervention. Treatments may cost tens of thousands of dollars, and you may be unable to work while you recover.

Certain injuries may also leave you with a permanent disability that prevents you from returning to your job at all. Depending on the severity of the situation, you may need expensive prosthetics or modifications to your home so you can navigate daily life. People who find themselves in such situations may also suffer psychological effects such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you lose a loved one in a drunk driving accident in Ohio, you will likely feel many of the above emotional consequences as well. To add to this pain, you might wonder how you will regain your financial stability if you were economically dependent on the person who lost their life. The compassionate drunk driving accident lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law understand how painful and unjust this situation is. We can help you demand the compensation you deserve through a wrongful death claim.

Liability of Drunk Drivers in Ohio

While driving with an elevated BAC level is illegal in Ohio, a successful accident claim still requires you to prove that the drunk driver was directly responsible for your injuries. In some cases, multiple parties may be liable for the collision.

Ohio has “dram shop liability” laws that allow an injured party to seek compensation from an establishment that has irresponsibly contributed to an at-fault drunk driver’s intoxication. For example, if a shop sells alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then causes an accident, an injured party can file a claim against the establishment. Speak to an experienced Ohio drunk driving lawyer to establish whether you might qualify for compensation under these laws.

What Compensation Can I Get from a Drunk Driving Accident Injury Claim?

If an Ohio drunk driver hurt you, a skilled attorney can seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial losses you have suffered as a result. The Ohio car accident lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law can fight on your behalf for money to cover the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income due to missed time at work
• Reduced earning potential
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Disability and disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage

If you lost a loved one to a drunk driver, our Ohio personal injury lawyer can file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for:

• Your loved one’s pain and suffering
• Medical bills for accident-related injuries
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of consortium
• Lost income for dependents

The amount you can recover depends on the unique circumstances of your case. Our attorneys can calculate the value of your losses and fight aggressively to recover compensation for them.

If the insurance company is unwilling to pay you for your losses, our attorneys can file a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver. This will allow you to seek compensatory damages in court. In some cases, you may also be able to seek punitive damages, which punish drivers whose actions have shown a reckless disregard for human life. Our attorneys can determine if your case qualifies for punitive damages and advise you on your rights.

Contact Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Ohio Today

The Ohio car accident lawyer with Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law is dedicated to helping injured people across the state recover the compensation they are owed. If a drunk driver injures you or your loved one, we can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Our knowledgeable legal team can investigate the accident, determine who is liable, calculate the value of your losses, and aggressively negotiate on your behalf.

Contact our team today for a free, no-risk consultation with an Ohio drunk driving accident lawyer to learn more about your legal options.