As people go about their daily lives, traveling and walking across the streets, they do not expect it to turn into a tragic event. Traffics rules and laws exist to prevent such happenings-speed limits, construction zone awareness signs and drunk driving laws exist so that drivers in Ohio and across the country are safe on the street. However, when people willingly disregard such laws and put others at risk, they should be held accountable, especially if the accident was completely unavoidable, such as a drunk driving accident.
A recent drunk driving accident in Ohio caused a couple’s death. The couple was walking when an allegedly drunk driver of a pickup truck struck them from behind. The 57-year-old woman died at the scene of the crime, and the 50-year-old man, who had gone through three brain surgeries in the last year and lost vision in one eye, died later as a result of his injuries.
The driver’s blood alcohol limit was .152, almost twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Ohio. The 74-year-old man was charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
For some families, criminal charges are not enough to receive closure for the loss of a loved one. A civil case, for wrongful death or personal injury, holding a negligent driver personally and financially accountable for his negligent behavior, not only can provide closure but may also provide monetary compensation that can ease a family’s financial burden that arises from the sudden loss of a loved one.
Source: Fox 8, “Family mourns loss of couple killed in alleged drunk driving accident in Willoughby,” Feb. 1, 2016, Jack Shea
