Drunk driving accidents are a devastatingly common and preventable cause of life altering injuries and deaths in Ohio. In a single year, more than 270 Ohioans were killed by drunk drivers, inspiring such efforts as Annie’s Law, named after a Chillicothe, Ohio victim who was killed by a drunk driver in 2013. The law was finally passed in 2016, requiring DUI offenders to use ignition interlock devices, where they must pass a breathalyzer test in order to start their vehicles.
Ohio is not the only state to make this sort of effort to prevent drunk driving, and there are many other strategies that are in effect throughout the US to reduce drunk driving accidents.
There are Many Strategies for Reducing Drunk Driving Accidents
Because drunk driving accidents are so common, deadly, and have so many repeat offenders, several strategies have been developed throughout the years to curb the behaviors that lead to these auto accidents in Ohio and throughout the United States.
There are nationwide laws that set the legal limit of blood alcohol content (BAC) at 0.08% with zero tolerance for individuals under the age of 21. This means that anyone driving with a BAC greater than 0.08% is breaking a nationwide law, as is anyone under the age of 21 with any amount of alcohol in their system at all.
There are also sobriety checkpoints in many areas, where police will stop vehicles at a given location to assess whether or not the driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol. The police can even revoke or suspend the license of any driver who has a BAC greater than the legal limit.
Then, laws like Annie’s Law in Ohio require offenders to have ignition interlocks installed on their vehicles, with a breathalyzer test required to start the vehicle. This is considered to be one of the most effective strategies for preventing drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving from repeating the offense and has the greatest impact on reducing drunk driving accidents.
Raising awareness is equally important, an mass media campaigns do their part to inform the public of the dangers and consequences that result from drunk driving. These campaigns often go on to inform the public of alternatives to drunk driving, such as designating a sober driver, calling a cab, or using Uber to get home safely.
Another method of raising awareness includes teaching children in school about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. Raising awareness can also include identifying individuals who are at risk for substance abuse and drunk driving and providing services and help to those who need it. This is one way that communities can address the problem before it becomes one for many people who might otherwise become drunk drivers.
Are You or a Loved One the Victim of a Drunk Driving Auto Accident in Ohio?
All of these preventative measures don’t take away the pain once a drunk driving auto accident happens to you. If you or a loved one has been injured or lost their live to the irresponsible actions of a drunk driver in Ohio, you are entitled to compensation for your damages and losses. You need to work with an attorney who has a track record of success in obtaining the best possible outcomes for victims of drunk driving auto accidents.
At the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers, our Ohio auto accident attorneys have developed a reputation for ensuring that our clients get the compensation that they need and deserve. We offer free consultations to learn the details and circumstances of your accident. Then, we use these details and facts to build a strong case. Depending on how your accident occurred, you may also want to press criminal charges against the drunk driver who caused your injuries and losses.
What many people don’t know, however, is that even if someone’s BAC is below the legal limit of 0.08%, but there is still some amount of alcohol in their system, this could still impair their driving and result in an auto accident. You might not be able to press criminal charges in such a case, but you can still seek compensation with the evidence of the driver’s negligence in driving while impaired. Our attorneys will investigate your case and help you to prove liability.
Seek a Free Consultation with the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers
When a drunk driving auto accident in Ohio claims the life of a loved one or causes injuries that impact your quality of life, no amount of money or justice is going to make you completely whole again. Yet, at the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers, our determined Ohio auto accident lawyers will do their best to ensure that you recover as much of your damages as possible and that you get the justice and compensation you deserve. Call us for a free consultation, and we’ll get to work on building your case.
