An Ohio auto wreck attorney notes that the suspect in a deadly Ohio wrong-way crash was pronounced dead at the accident scene after colliding with an SUV carrying four young people, all of whom also died in the accident. The driver had been released from jail just 33 hours earlier in connection with a separate suspected drunk driving crash. In addition to criminal charges, people who drive under the influence may be liable to the others they harm, and victims of negligence, as well as the families of those killed, may be eligible to recover compensation with the help of Ohio personal injury attorneys.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Ohio today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Report: Suspect In Fatal Crash Had Been Charged With DUI Hours Earlier
Ohio’s northbound Interstate 75 was closed to motorists for approximately five hours following a deadly February 2016 crash that claimed the lives of four men and a woman. A wrong-way driver believed to be in his 60s collided with an SUV carrying a group of friends, all of whom became trapped inside their vehicle after the force of the impact caused their vehicle to flip over. Mydaytondailynews.com reports that the wrong-way driver was also killed in the crash.
Witnesses traveling in a nearby vehicle described having to swerve to avoid the motorist believed responsible for the subsequent crash, and another witness who came upon the scene later described carnage and two vehicles missing front ends. According to law enforcement, the alleged at-fault driver may have been under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. A local news outlet reported that the suspect had already been charged with driving under the influence within the last few days leading up to the fatal crash, the website reported.
Criminal Liability for Drunk Driving Accidents is Different Than Civil Liability
Regardless of the outcome of any criminal action against the driver, the determination of the criminal court is different than any civil case that may be brought against the driver. In a criminal matter, a person is accused of a crime and, if convicted, can be sentenced to jail or probation. Sometimes monetary fines and restitution are imposed on the guilty party.
However, the outcome of a criminal matter is often not relevant to a civil matter that could be brought against the person committing the wrongful act. A person who drives drunk commits a crime, but if that person also injures or kills another person while driving drunk, he or she may face civil liability in addition to criminal charges. In a civil case, a person’s actions are not judged on whether they were illegal, but instead on whether they constituted negligence, reckless or malicious behavior, or other fault. If those actions are found to constitute fault, and if those actions caused injury to another person, then the wrongful actor may be held liable to the injured party for the payment of money to compensate for the injuries and other damages caused.
How an Ohio Auto Wreck Attorney Can Help
Drivers or passengers who are injured in car accidents may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of the ability to earn
- Scarring and disfigurement
If a driver or passenger is killed in a car accident, his or her family members may be able to pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Loss of the economic support of the loved one
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Conscious pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of the companionship of the loved one
- Funeral expenses
If the actions causing injury are malicious or so reckless that intent to harm can be inferred, the responsible party can be liable for punitive damages to punish wrongful conduct and deter similar conduct in the future.
People who have been injured in a car accident are advised to seek a qualified Ohio auto wreck attorney to help them protect their legal rights.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Ohio. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Ohio today.
