Car accidents can be caused by a variety of reasons, but when the car accident could have been prevented, it is even more difficult for victims and their family members to come to terms with their grief. A drunk driving accident is just that – a preventable accident if only the drunk driver had not gotten behind the wheel intoxicated. One way to come to terms with the grief loved ones are going through is for the drunk driver to be held accountable.
One of the ways in which drunk drivers can be held accountable in Cincinnati is through criminal proceedings. A drunk driver in Ohio has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for driving drunk and killing a 25-year-old. He was driving in Cleveland during the early morning hours when he struck and killed the victim. The victim left behind a three-year-old daughter. The victim’s family voiced their opinions during sentencing; they had requested a higher sentence for the drunk driver so that other intoxicated drivers would not also receive lenient sentences.
Another way to hold drunk drivers accountable is by filing a civil suit independent of the criminal proceeding. Through the suit for wrongful death or personal injury, Ohio victims and their loved ones can hold the drunk driver responsible for loss of companionship, loss of income and even funeral or medical expenses. It is not easy to quantify the loss suffered by victims and their loved ones in the event of an accident, but compensation received through a civil suit can be used to alleviate the financial burden that follows an accident and allow victims to focus on getting through the difficult time.
Source: Fox 8, “Cleveland man sentenced for deadly hit-and-run motorcycle accident,” Melissa Reid, March 19, 2015
