Columbus DUI Attorney

When we turn to the latest reporting year for Ohio, we see that there was a total of 303,298 vehicle crashes. Out of those, more than 75,000 of them were injury-causing crashes and 1,179 people died.

What really concerns us is the alcohol-related crash statistics. During that same year, we know that 314 of the crash fatalities and almost 7,000 of the crash injuries were caused by alcohol-related incidents.

• Over 26% of the total traffic crash fatalities that year were due to alcohol-impaired drivers

The vast majority of alcohol-related crashes involved passenger vehicles, though hundreds also involved motorcycles, heavy trucks, or buses.

Injuries from these crashes tend to be more severe than with other types of causes. That is because impaired drivers usually driver at higher rates of speed and often do not slow down before an impact. It is not uncommon for us to see the following injuries as a result of these incidents:

• Broken and dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions

Consider the costs associated with these injuries. The emergency and ongoing medical care for serious injuries can quickly rise into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. When determining a fair compensation for these incidents, we also have to look at the hidden costs. These can include things like lost income if a victim cannot work while they recover, travel to and from treatment, any vehicle or home modifications necessary, as well as emotional and psychological damages.

In some cases, a vendor who knowingly sells alcohol to a minor or to a person who is visibly intoxicated can be held liable for damages and injuries caused by that person under Ohio’s dram shop and liquor laws.