Traffic accidents that result in fatalities and/or serious injuries nearly always lead the local newscasts and are on the front pages of the local newspapers.  Even when drugs, alcohol, or reckless driving are not to blame, there is a natural reaction from the media to try to find the cause of the accident. In many cases, the media jumps to the wrong conclusion and will run with a story to make a deadline.  Also, the detectives from accident investigation will always try to interview survivors of the accident.  In many cases, these people suffer from short term memory loss as a result of closed head injuries and cannot provide any reliable information. 

At this point, if the cause of the accident is not self-evident, the accident investigators will close the highway or roadway and attempt to reconstruct the events leading up to the accident.  Witnesses to the accident will be interviewed; pavement markings, skids, and yawl markes from the vehicles will used to base measurments; and, bodily substances will be taken from all motorists (including the deceased) in the event of fatalities.

Normally, our law firm is retained within 2 days of a serious vehicular crime and we immediately supply our professioanl advice and practical considerations for our client and his or her family.  Legal issues range from blood testing and detective interviews to practical issues such as the desire to reach out to the loved ones on the other side of the case.  Insurance companies and their adjusters start calling as well as local news reporters.  How to handle the crisis is one of the best things we do for our clients.

Eventually, criminal charges may be brought.  These can be misdemeanors or felonies.  Penalties range from no jail to mandatory prison  terms depending upon a myriad of factors.  Most of our clients will need grief counseling and should consult with their family physician to deal with the stress and/or mental health factors of being involved in a serious accident.

Legal options and case strategy ranges from accident reconstruction / computer animated reconstruction to suppression issues of statements and/or bodily substances and penalty management in preparation  of sentencing.  In some cases, charges are never filed because the "at fault" driver cannot be adequately determined by the detectives.

If  you or someone you care about has been involved in a serious accident in Ohio and they may be charged with causing the accident, you may call Attorney Brad Koffel directly for a private and confidential telephone conversation.  His direct dial is 614-481-7215.  Mr. Koffel is listed in Best Lawyers in America and has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers.  His professional practice is devoted to alcohol and drug crimes, serious vehicular offenses, white collar crime and and non-violent crime.