OHIO DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Holding Drunk Drivers Accountable for Car Crash Injuries

Although drunk driving accidents have decreased over the past 20 years, they are still a persistent risk for drivers on Ohio roads. During the three-year period of 2019 to 2021 there were 39.951 operating a vehicle impaired (OVI) accidents, resulting in 2,002 deaths and 24,359 injuries. Averaged out, that’s roughly 13,300 OVI crashes leading to 670 deaths and about 8,100 injuries per year. While progress has been made, the danger of drunk drivers is still very real.

Criminally prosecuting drunk drivers is an important deterrence and a way to hold these reckless and negligent drivers accountable. However, prison sentences, licenses suspensions and fines aren’t all that matter when drunk drivers injure innocent people.

If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident in Ohio, it’s important you receive the compensation you need to cover your medical costs so you can move on with your life. You may also be eligible to receive punitive damages, a fairly uncommon damage type specifically awarded in cases where the person who caused your injuries acted with reckless disregard or malice.

You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake. The Buckeye Law Group is here to fight to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Punitive Damages in Ohio Drunk Driving Accidents

Punitive damages are unique in a few important ways.

• They can only be awarded if the plaintiff wins compensatory damages
• The punitive damages are capped at double the compensatory damages with a maximum cap of $350,000
• They can only be awarded by a jury (or potentially a judge)

Compensatory damages can be granted in all types of negligence and strict liability cases. All personal injury claims and torts essentially revolve around the idea that you shouldn’t be forced to pay for someone else’s mistake.

Punitive damages aren’t intended to compensate the victims of negligence for damages. They’re specifically awarded to punish and discourage the perpetrator of the act in hopes that the financial sting will prevent them from repeating the act in the future.

According to Ohio statute, punitive damages are only available if the defendant acted with malice or aggravated or egregious fraud, or if the defendant authorized, participated in or ratified actions that meet that standard.

While you can settle for other types of damages, like lost wages or medical bills, punitive damages cannot be a part of a settlement deal or claim payment.



Drunk driving accidents are one of the most frequently cited examples of personal injury cases that result in punitive damages. Drivers who get behind the wheel drunk are fully aware that what they’re doing is wrong and illegal, and that someone might get hurt due to their choice, but they do it anyways.