Drunk drivers can be held liable for more than personal injury after an accident. They may also face civil penalties for property damage. Such is the case for a 28-year-old Blue Ash man who crashed his 2004 Acura into a guardrail in Madeira just before midnight on September 29th.
The driver of the vehicle refused an intoxication test. However, he was found to have an open container, slurred speech, and strong smell of alcohol. He was taken into police custody and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving with a suspended license, and failure to maintain control of his vehicle. Road conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be dry with light traffic.
As of November 30th, the news publication date of this story, the driver had still not provided proof of insurance to the city of Madeira. Estimated costs to repair or replace the guardrail damaged in the accident are approximately $20,000. If it is found that he did not have automobile insurance, the city intends to proceed with a civil judgment, meaning that the driver will be held personally responsible for the repair costs in addition to any criminal fines imposed. In some cases, even when a driver is insured, an insurance company will deny coverage where criminal charges are involved.
If you have personal property that has been damaged by a drunk or intoxicated driver, an attorney can offer advice on how to file an insurance claim for needed repairs. If there is no insurance, a civil judgment can be obtained. A person should never be forced to pay steep repair costs for damage caused by negligence or recklessness of others.