When a person is charged with drunk driving in Cuyahoga County and the surrounding areas of Ohio, there are frequently other criminal charges associated with it. The penalties can accrue, which can cause significant problems in a person’s life if they are not addressed as aggressively as possible with a strong legal defense. When there is an accident and a driver is not only accused of operating a vehicle after imbibing (OVI) but the driver is accused of fleeing as well, there can be major penalties.
A man was arrested for OVI and more after he crashed into an Ohio Department of Transportation truck and then acted as if he were a panhandler to keep from being arrested. The accident occurred on I-90 as the workers were filling potholes in the early-morning hours. After the accident, law enforcement said that the driver walked away and stood near the exit ramp. When officers spoke to him, he said he was panhandling. He had taken a container filled with money with him when leaving his vehicle. He denied having a role in the accident. However, officers asked him if he wanted his cellphone from the vehicle. When he responded in the affirmative, he was arrested. One worker was checked for injuries but did not require treatment.
Obviously, it is not a good thing to drive under the influence. Nor is it a positive to flee the scene of an accident. However, people who are charged with OVI and other charges linked to an accident must remember the potential punishments they will face if they are convicted. A driver’s license suspension, fines, jail time, raised insurance rates and more can come about after a conviction. It is possible there is a logical explanation as to why the driver appeared to be under the influence. There could be alternatives arguments that supports one’s case. Before making the situation worse, it is wise to have a legal defense.
OVI cases can seem to be difficult, but there are avenues to formulate a defense. A law firm that understands all aspects of drunk driving cases and other areas of criminal defense may be able to assist in dealing with such charges.
