Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Like every other state in the country, Illinois has laws against drinking and driving, and violating those laws can lead to serious punishments and penalties. In Illinois, a driver is presumed to be under the influence of alcohol if that driver has a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. But not everyone realizes that motorists can be cited and found guilty even if their BAC is lower than .08. As written in the law, what matters is whether a driver is intoxicated or impaired by the alcohol in his or her system.
Some types of drivers have even less leeway when it comes to drinking and driving. For example, those under age 21 are not permitted to have any alcohol in their system while operating a vehicle, in part because they have not reached the age of majority and therefore cannot drink legally. Some professional licenses likewise require drivers to refrain from all alcohol while driving. A school bus operator often is required to comply with this rule and even a drop of alcohol in a driver’s system can lead to a criminal charge in some cases.
When a motorist drives under the influence, that driver’s ability to make decisions and respond to changing conditions deceases, increasing the odds of a drunk driving accident occurring. These collisions can be serious and may leave victims with injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to broken bones and lacerations to head injuries or even death. While many drunk drivers know that they risk the possibility of a criminal charge if they are caught, not all realize that they may also be held financially liable for any and all damages that result if they cause a collision. Victims of these crashes may be able to understand their legal options by speaking with a personal injury lawyer in the Chicago area.
Two cars collided and a building was hit in a Lincolnwood car accident that happened Thursday at approximately 3:00 p.m. According to police in the area, one car was traveling northbound in the 6600 block of North Lincoln Avenue when the driver lost control and struck a second car, then several trees, a building, and a sign pole. Emergency crews responded to the crash and transported the driver to an area hospital but his injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead. During treatment, officials learned that the driver had alcohol in his system prior to the collision but the exact level of alcohol and whether that driver was intoxicated are unclear at this time. It is also not clear whether anyone in the second vehicle or in the area of the restaurant were hurt in the crash.
When a Chicago-area drunk driving accident takes place, numerous people may be injured, including the suspected drunk driver, passengers in that driver’s vehicle, or those in another car. When an innocent person is hurt, regardless of what vehicle that person was in at the time, the victim or victims of that crash may be entitled to financial compensation for damages, including payment for medical expenses and pain and suffering.
The personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. believe in holding those negligent drivers responsible when an accident takes place and we fight for each and every victim we represent. If you have been hurt in a car accident, we want to fight for you as well.
We offer a free case consultation to those accident victims who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we provide the consultation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There is no obligation on your part for speaking with us and our legal team never charges our clients a fee unless we make a recovery in their cases.
If you have been hurt, make sure your rights are protected. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help you seek the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Fleeing Driver Causes 3 Car Crash on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published November 6, 2014.
Resource:
Man killed in Lincolnwood crash, by Carlos Sadovi, Chicago Tribune, published November 6, 2014.