New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights to drive or to be on the road of the year, and that holds true in Chicago as well as across the nation in general. It is unfortunate but some drivers choose to drink alcohol and then drive or to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs. These drivers are not only a hazard to themselves but also to those around them, whether they are drivers, passengers, or even pedestrians.
Police in Chicago attempt to identify these drivers before tragedy strikes by looking for signs of impairment, including weaving in and out of traffic, speeding or driving much slower than expected, failing to stop at a stop sign, or general aggressiveness. But officers are not able to be at every intersection in Chicago at every moment and as a result, drunk driving accidents happen every week. These collisions affect victims at varying times of the days during the week but those associated with heavier drinking, like overnight hours and the weekends, tend to have more accidents than those during times of lighter drinking, like working hours. Holidays that may involve drinking exacerbate the prevalence of these accidents which explains in part why driving on New Year’s Eve can be dangerous.
Riverside police officers reportedly noticed a man driving 99 miles per hour on Thursday morning at approximately 1:00 a.m. Officers pulled over the driver and noticed signs of intoxication, leading to the arrest of the 20-year-old male driver while he was on 26th Street and traveling in an area with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. There are reports that the driver stated he was attempting to see how fast his car could travel when police pulled him over.
The driver allegedly admitted to officers that he was traveling home from a New Year’s Eve party and he submitted to a breathalyzer test during the traffic stop, leading to the conclusion that the suspect had a blood alcohol content of .13. The legal limit in the State of Illinois is .08, but as the driver was under the age of 21, he was legally banned from driving with any alcohol in his system.
Any driver who operates under the influence of alcohol is a threat and the greater the alcohol content, the greater the threat posed. While the legal limit for operating a vehicle in Illinois may be .08, that does not mean that drivers can always operate with that level of alcohol in their systems and be legal. Instead, any amount of alcohol in a driver’s blood can be a crime if that amount of alcohol has an intoxicating effect. Further, certain drivers, like school bus operators and minors, are banned by law from having even a drop of alcohol in their bodies while they drive.
When a drunk driving accident occurs in Chicago, victims may be left behind and may be injured, needing medical treatment. These victims cannot magically erase the harm done to them but they may be able to pursue relief through the legal system and through a civil claim for damages. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago can help you understand your options and whether you have a valid claim if you have been injured.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., our firm is comprised of dedicated personal injury attorneys who believe in fighting for the rights of those who have been harmed by the actions of others. We offer a free case consultation to all injury victims who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have been injured or if your loved one has been hurt or killed, do not suffer alone. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Victim in Rollover Accident on I-57 Dies One Month Later, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 31, 2014
Resource:
Man charged with DUI, driving 99 mph in Riverside, Chicago Tribune, published January 1, 2015.