Columbus Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer
In Ohio, and many other states throughout the U.S., the blood alcohol content level (BAC) that is illegal to drive at is .08% or above. And while this limit is in place to keep drivers who have been drinking off of the road, drunk driving accidents are still an all too common occurrence on Ohio roads. Drivers operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI) can leave other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians with severe injuries after an accident.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s OVI Dashboard, a total of 71,335 OVI crashes have occurred in Ohio from 2018 to 2023 alone. A drunk driving accident can leave victims facing injuries, from minor, recoverable injuries to life-altering, major injuries. In cases where drunk driving is involved, victims typically have the opportunity to hold the liable party responsible for their injuries and losses by pursuing a personal injury claim.
At The Friedmann Firm, LLC, our team of Columbus drunk driver accident attorneys in Columbus, Ohio is here to help. We provide experienced and aggressive legal representation for you as we seek to hold the liable party responsible for their negligence.
How Can a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Help You?
Any car accident has its unique factors that need to be taken into consideration when taking legal action against the liable party. And while individuals are able to take action on a personal injury claim on their own, car accident claims can quickly become complex. And when drunk driving is involved, the complexities increase. That is why we always recommend working with a Columbus drunk driving injury lawyer.
When it comes to seeking compensation from the liable party, insurance companies that are involved may attempt to exclude some of your injuries and losses from the claim or you may even face pressure to accept a low or early settlement. This is where working with an experienced Columbus drunk driver accident lawyer proves beneficial.
Here at the Friedmann Firm, our drunk driver accident attorneys in Columbus, Ohio are here to ensure that you are compensated fairly for your injuries and losses. You should be able to focus on your recovery in the wake of the accident, while we handle the legal legwork required for your claim.
Some of the ways that we can help you include:
- Collecting and handling all the evidence for your case including your side of the story, eyewitness statements, and gathering relevant documentation such as medical reports and police reports
- Filing your claim on time
- Handling all necessary paperwork
- Negotiating with insurance companies for fair compensation
- Seeking maximum compensation for your lost income, medical expenses, and other damages
Please remember that you are not alone after a drunk driving accident. It can be a very stressful time, especially as you try to focus on recovering from your injuries and getting back into the swing of daily life. Our team of Columbus drunk driver accident lawyers is here to help you through the legal process from start to finish.
Common Types of Drunk Driving Car Accidents
Alcohol can greatly impair a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and overall ability to drive safely. Drivers who have been drinking may feel more tired, may be unable to track other vehicles and pedestrians easily, and may experience vision issues. This can result in a drunk driving car accident, where the driver and others may be injured.
Some common types of accidents caused by drunk driving include:
- Head-on collisions
- Pedestrian collisions
- Wrong-way crashes
- Rear-end collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
If you or a loved one has been involved in a drunk driving accident, please contact our drunk driver accident attorneys in Columbus, Ohio.
You may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim against the liable party. We can take a closer look at the details of your situation to help determine what next steps to take.
Common Injuries from Drunk Driving Car Accidents
Injuries from a car accident can range from minor to severe. Some common types of injuries individuals sustain from drunk driving accidents include:
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Skull fractures
- Broken bones
- Mental and emotional issues such as PTSD, memory loss, and depression
- Brain injuries, including Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Cardiac arrest
- Loss of limb
- Amputation
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
- Cuts and scrapes
- Death
This is not an exhaustive list of the potential injuries you may sustain after a drunk driving accident. And while major injuries or death do not occur in every instance of a drunk driving accident, individuals can be severely impacted by these accidents. According to the CDC, more than 10,000 people in the U.S. die each year in car crashes that involve a driver who has been drinking.
Drunk driving accidents can leave you injured with short and long-lasting impacts on your daily life. To ensure that you receive fair compensation for all of your injuries, reach out to The Friedmann Firm. We will be able to look over the details of your case and help determine if you have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
What To Do If You Are in an Accident with a Drunk Driver
Being injured by a drunk driver can change your life in a moment. A car accident can happen out of nowhere, leaving you hurt, confused, and stressed about what to do next.
Following the accident, there are some common steps you can take to help protect yourself.
- Call 911. If no one else has already called 911, it is important to call. You along with others, including the drunk driver, passengers, drivers, or pedestrians may have suffered injuries. You will want to seek medical treatment for yourself, even if you do not feel hurt. Medical professionals will be able to assist you, and this will provide you with a medical report.
- Speak with the police as soon as you can. Typically, the police will look to speak to each party involved in the accident for their accident report. This will help establish your side of the events and provide a police report of the accident.
- Document the scene when you are able. This can involve taking photos and videos of the accident and the surrounding area, collecting contact information for any eyewitnesses, and ensuring that you get the driver’s information as well.
- Contact a Columbus drunk driver accident lawyer. A drunk driving accident is a serious type of accident. It can be very beneficial to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. We will be able to provide you with legal advice and representation, should we take your case on, throughout the entirety of the legal proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I recover in a drunk driving accident claim?
Following a drunk driving accident, there are several different types of damages that you may receive from a claim. Damages you may recover from the liable party include:
- Medical expenses (both current and future)
- Lost income (both current and future)
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
In cases of wrongful death, additional damages may be available such as funeral and burial expenses and loss of companionship.
How is negligence proven in a drunk driving car accident?
Proving negligence in the case of a drunk driving car accident will be key to your personal injury claim. The person who has been injured must prove that the liable party violated the duty of care that they owed to other drivers and pedestrians and that the breach of that duty of care contributed directly to the injured person’s injuries and losses.
Proving negligence can be a complicated process, especially when driving under the influence comes into play. Your Columbus DUI accident victim attorney will work to gather evidence to help prove negligence on the part of the liable driver – just as they would in any other personal injury case.
The Friedmann Firm team is here to help provide you with expert representation throughout the legal process as we seek fair compensation on your behalf and to prove negligence.
Connect with an Experienced Columbus DUI Accident Victim Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in a drunk driving accident, reach out to The Friedmann Firm today. Our team of Columbus drunk driving injury lawyers is here to help. We are fully committed to helping you seek fair compensation for your injuries and losses all while holding the responsible driver liable for their negligent acts.
With an aggressive approach, we put our years of legal experience to work for you.
Contact us over the phone at 614-610-9755 or through our contact form to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our Columbus DUI accident victim attorneys today.
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