The Toll of Drunk Driving in Ohio
Despite tough OVI (operating a vehicle impaired) laws, drunk and drugged driving continues to kill and injure Ohioans every year. Impaired-driving crashes are often especially severe because intoxicated drivers travel at high speeds, fail to brake, and drive the wrong way. Victims and their families are left to cope with catastrophic injuries or the loss of a loved one caused by a wholly preventable choice. These cases carry both a civil claim and, frequently, criminal consequences for the at-fault driver.
A Civil Claim Separate from the Criminal Case
The criminal prosecution of a drunk driver is handled by the state and is meant to punish the offender, but it does not compensate the victim. A separate civil claim is how an injured person recovers for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. A criminal OVI conviction can serve as strong evidence in the civil case, but a victim's right to compensation does not depend on whether the driver is convicted.
Punitive Damages and Dram Shop Claims
Because drunk driving involves conscious disregard for the safety of others, Ohio law allows victims to seek punitive damages in many impaired-driving cases, over and above compensation for their actual losses. In addition, Ohio's Dram Shop Act may allow a claim against a bar or restaurant that served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated patron or to an underage person who then caused a crash. These additional avenues can be important sources of accountability and recovery.
Pursuing Full Justice for Victims
Drunk driving victims deserve more than an apology. Our network attorneys pursue every available source of recovery — the driver's insurance, punitive damages, and potential dram shop liability — to hold impaired drivers and those who enabled them fully accountable. The goal is both fair compensation and a measure of justice for the harm done.
Injured in Ohio? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The criminal case punishes the driver but doesn't compensate you. A separate civil claim is how you recover for your injuries and losses.
Often yes. Because drunk driving shows conscious disregard for others' safety, Ohio law frequently allows punitive damages beyond compensation for actual losses.
Possibly, under Ohio's Dram Shop Act, if a bar served an obviously intoxicated or underage patron who then caused the crash. These claims are fact-specific.