The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 10,322 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving accidents in 2012 alone and that these deaths accounted for 31 percent of all traffic-related fatalities. Additionally, 20 percent of all children ages 0 to 14 years old who were killed in collisions were involved in alcohol-related incidents and that more than half of those were in the same vehicle as an impaired or drunk driver.
The results of drunk driving accidents cannot be understated: these collisions cause injuries, death, and substantial financial toll in every state and major city in the country, including Chicago. Perhaps most disturbingly is that these accidents need never happen and therefore all the destruction they cause is both preventable and avoidable if motorists follow local laws and abstain from drinking and driving. Yet despite these risks and despite these consequences, millions of drivers self-report operating while under the influence of alcohol on a repeated basis.
Innocent victims are often the ones who are injured or killed when an impaired or drunk driver chooses to operate a vehicle and the suffering experienced by these victims can be immeasurable. When a crash happens in the Chicago area, those victims or their surviving family members may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their losses and their pain even though nothing can completely erase the harm caused by a crash. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options if a drunk driving accident has affected your life or has harmed your family member.
On Tuesday, police in Aurora confirmed that a three-car collision happened near Kirk and Butterfield Road at approximately 9:30 p.m. Reports indicate that traffic in the area was stopped for a red light and that a 41-year-old male driver approached the area at a high rate of speed. The driver allegedly failed to slow down for stopped traffic and rear-ended a car in front of him. The driver’s vehicle then proceeded to collide with a third car in the area after the initial impact.
According to police, the driver’s blood alcohol content was tested and revealed to be .214, more than twice the legal limit of .08 in the State of Illinois. The driver was arrested and is facing charges related to this incident including operating while under the influence of alcohol. Emergency crews assessed the man at the scene and transported him to an area hospital for treatment of injuries that were caused in the crash; no one in either of the other vehicles needed hospital attention at that time and it is believed that everyone involved will recover from any injuries sustained.
Drunk driving collisions are a serious threat to public safety and they affect thousands of Chicago-area residents every year. If you have been hurt in a crash with a drunk or impaired driver or if your loved one was injured or killed, call the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help you understand your legal options for relief.
We offer all victims a free case consultation without obligation when they call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we always have a lawyer available to take your call, regardless of the time of day. We keep all discussions confidential when you call and if we represent you in your case, we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery.
The results of an accident can affect a victim’s life for years to come. Don’t let the financial toll that accompanies that crash cause you to suffer. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. now and let us help you seek the relief you and your family deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Failed Attempt to Pass Causes Fiery Chicago Car Crash, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published May 14, 2015.
Resource:
Aurora man charged with DUI after three-car crash, by Erika Wurst, Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, published May 14, 2015.