Ohio residents should be able to look forward to the holidays and the ability to spend time with friends and family without worry that someone will not arrive to their intended destination safely. Sadly, this is simply not possible. From cell phones to alcohol, there are simply too many things that can distract a driver or ways a driver can make a senseless choice that puts others at risk.
This past Thanksgiving holiday weekend saw the state of Ohio record more deaths on the roads than in the prior year. In total there were 11 motor vehicle accidents in which a total of 16 people were killed. One accident alone on the Sunday night of that weekend claimed four lives. Fifteen of the people killed were in vehicles and one was on foot. It is not known how many of these deaths may have been associated with a drunk driver, one of the factors known to be a concern at this time of year.
From January through October of this year, Ohio has seen a decrease in the number of fatal crashes associated with drinking and driving. Over the same time period, the number of arrests for drunk driving has increased. This Thanksgiving weekend, there were 542 people arrested for and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. That is 15 percent more than over Thanksgiving 2016.
People in Ohio who are involved in tragic crashes during the holidays might find talking to a lawyer a good way of understanding their options at this time.
Source: WSAZ.com, “Crash fatalities up this Thanksgiving weekend in Ohio,” November 27, 2017
