Drunk Driving Lawyer
Your primary concern should be getting better after an automobile, motorcycle, or truck accident. Let Kevin Kurgis fight for you.
Drunk driving is the number one cause of death on U.S. roadways. In addition, severe accidents often carry life-altering consequences that affect those involved in the crash and their family and friends.
At Kurgis & Associates, our Columbus drunk driving accident lawyers make it our mission to ensure that an individual who drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol is held responsible for any damage they may cause, whether it’s medical or legal expenses.
If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a wreck due to drunk driving in Columbus, you need compassionate, professional drunk driving lawyers in Ohio. The experienced team at Kurgis & Associates fights to ensure you get the treatment and the compensation you are due.
Definition of Intoxicated Driving
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is against the law in all 50 states. A blood alcohol content of at least 0.08% will result in drunk driving charges for drivers of the legal drinking age. For minors, it’s 0.02%
Ohio Drunk Driving Laws
In Ohio, one who drives with specific amounts of alcohol or drugs in their body is considered “Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence.” Minors who drive under the influence receive a charge of “Operating a Vehicle After Underage Consumption.” An individual’s blood alcohol content must meet or exceed 0.08% unless driving a commercial vehicle. The legal limit is 0.04% to receive a charge for “Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence.” Minors are charged with “Operating a Vehicle After Underage Consumption” if they have a blood alcohol content meeting or exceeding 0.02%.
If an individual is convicted of these charges, their driver’s license might be suspended. Additionally, they may also receive a fine, mandatory monitoring, or jail time due to Ohio’s Zero Tolerance Laws. These consequences depend on the previous driving record of the individual and whether or not they have earlier convictions of the same or similar charges. If an individual has multiple convictions within 10 years, the sentence will be much greater than a first-time offender. There are also penalties for refusing to undergo a blood alcohol test, which makes it easier to build a case when an officer of the law is present after the accident.
Liability for Injuries Caused by Drunk Driving
Each time Ohio residents get behind the wheel, they automatically assume a legal duty of care for others on the road, from drivers and passengers to road crews and pedestrians. Driving after consuming alcohol signifies a choice by the driver to endanger the lives of others.
The State of Ohio takes this breach of duty seriously. Anyone injured due to this negligence has the right to compensation for damages.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover the cost of emergency transport and medical care as well as a variety of other injuries, including:
- Property damage
- Income loss
- Disability and/or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Ongoing or future medical care
- Doctor and hospital bills
- Requirements for Filing a Claim
You may be able to file a claim against an intoxicated driver for economic and non-economic compensation if you can prove the following:
- The driver was impaired
- You were injured
- Someone else was responsible for the crash
- You and/or your passengers suffered damages
- You have up to two years from the accident to file a lawsuit.
How Kurgis & Associates Can Help
If you or someone important to you has suffered a property loss, bodily injury, or death because of a motorist under the influence of an intoxicating substance, our expert Columbus drunk driving lawyers will build a case to prove the fault of the intoxicated driver.
It all starts with thoroughly knowing the drunk driving laws of the state. Then, we can use documentation like police reports to show any negligence or illegal activity on the part of the driver that may have contributed to the car accident. Even if the driver is not formally charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, any level of alcohol or drugs in the individual’s blood may have impaired their driving and contributed to the accident. Upon finding any trace of an intoxicating substance in the driver at fault’s blood, a Columbus DUI attorney from Kurgis & Associates may use that information to show that the driver was negligent in your case.
Even if your car accident only resulted in damage to the vehicle itself, having our drunk driving attorneys fight for you will make it easier and much less stressful to win the compensation that covers the cost of the damage. However, you may have suffered a physical or psychological injury, or sometimes both, because of a drunk driving accident. In that case, the driver at fault should be responsible for any necessary treatment, and we will fight to ensure you receive precisely the care and compensation you need.
At Kurgis & Associates, our goal is to protect you from insurance companies looking for profit from your situation. Without a lawyer, it is challenging to deal with insurance companies, law enforcement, and legal details in addition to any tragic result of the accident. We fight for you so you can focus on healing.
Why Kurgis & Associates Is a Trusted Name in Columbus Drunk Driving Cases
For over 20 years, the Columbus drunk driving accident attorneys at Kurgis & Associates have been fighting for our clients, getting the verdicts and settlements they deserve. When we approach a case, the rights and compensation of our clients are our highest priority. Therefore, we faithfully protect our clients when other lawyers or insurance companies try to reduce or eliminate the compensation that is your right as the victim of a drunk driving accident.
In addition to a group of experienced and dedicated DUI attorneys in Columbus, Kurgis & Associates is a contingency firm. That means we don’t get paid unless you get paid. Legal advice and service expenses should never stand in the way of a victim of severe injury or wrongful death getting the reparations they deserve.
Contact Kurgis & Associates to help you understand the legal process and document your injuries. We fight to get medical attention and compensation you deserve
