Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Driving under the influence can be deadly to anyone on the road. Often, it is someone who is not impaired but simply in the wrong place at the wrong time that suffers due to the reckless conduct of an intoxicated driver. Every year, thousands of drunk driving accidents occur in Chicago, leaving many with serious injuries or even causing some people their lives. When this happens, the law steps in and allows the victims of a drunk driving crash the ability to seek relief for their damages.
Not knowing how you will pay for your medical bills or not knowing how you will support yourself financially after an accident can make the injuries you sustained all the more devastating. Speaking with a lawyer who handles personal injury claims on behalf of victims of car accidents may help you understand whether you are entitled to payment, including compensation for lost wages and pain and suffering, if you have been hurt.
Police in Chicago responded to an accident on Saturday morning in the local lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway near its merger with the Skyway. When they arrived, they found a vehicle collided with a divider off the road’s surface that served to separate the two expressways. Police believe that the driver of the car, a Chevy Impala, attempted to veer away from the Skyway and to remain on the Dan Ryan when he lost control and collided with the barrier. Four people including the driver were in the car at the time and all three passengers were injured. The front seat passenger, a 22-year-old male, suffered extreme trauma and died as a result of the crash. The other two passengers received medical treatment but their current conditions are not clear.
When police arrived, they noticed open liquor containers in the vehicle. According to police, the driver, a 29-year-old male, allegedly admitted to drinking prior to driving and reportedly said he’d been drinking up to the point that the group got into the vehicle around 3:15 am. Laboratory tests reportedly showed the driver had a blood alcohol content of .223, nearly three times the legal limit of .08 in Illinois.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime in Illinois and in every other state in the nation. If a driver is caught operating a car while drunk in Chicago, that driver may face criminal charges that can result in fines, loss of a driver’s license, and incarceration. The punishment is often more severe for repeat offenders who have been apprehended drinking and driving in the past.
In additional to any criminal charges, a drunk driver may face civil liability to the victims of any accident results or to the family of any victim killed. These claims can be brought to recover for all losses incurred and can hold a drunk driver responsible for his or her actions in causing a collision.
If you have been hurt in a drunk driving accident or if your loved one has been killed, call the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us provide you with a free case consultation. We are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to take your call and there is no obligation on your part for taking advantage of the free consultation. Everything discussed will remain confidential and we will help you get answers whenever you need them. If you have been hurt, call us today toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575. Let us help you get the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Pedestrian Killed in Chicago Crash with Pickup Truck, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published April 10, 2014.
Resource:
Man in fatal DUI crash was nearly 3 times over the legal limit, prosecutors say, by Kim Geiger, Chicago Tribune, published April 20, 2014.