Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Drunk drivers pose a real and serious threat to themselves and to all others on the road. This includes not only passengers in their own vehicles but also those in other cars, on motorcycles or bicycles, or even pedestrians who are near the street or crossing in a crosswalk. As alcohol is a depressant, it suppresses the central nervous system and decreases a driver’s ability to react to hazards as they appear, including people in the road.
Drunk drivers are more likely to speed and more likely to ignore traffic control devices, like traffic lights and stop signs, when compared to other drivers. This means that the odds of a drunk driver causing a collision are high and when a crash does occur, it is likely to result in injuries.
The laws in Chicago let accident victims bring a claim for their financial damages against a drunk driver that causes their injuries. In some cases, there may be more than one claim available depending on how the accident occurred and what factors contributed to the crash.
Early reports indicate that a collision occurred between a driver and a pedestrian on Sunday in Chicago and that the pedestrian was crossing the street at the intersection of 78th and Ashland. To make things worse, it appears that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision and the pedestrian she struck was a uniformed police officer.
Authorities say the female driver, a Chicago resident, failed to yield to the pedestrian, who had the right-of-way, and proceeded into the intersection where the collision occurred. The woman refused several orders from the police officer to step outside of her car. When officers approached the woman, they reported her eyes to be bloodshot and glossy and they noticed a cup from a chain restaurant that appeared to be half full. The cup was reportedly labeled as a margarita cup and police believe it contained an alcoholic beverage at the time of the crash.
The woman has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, contrary to and in violation of local Chicago and state laws. She is currently free on bail.
Fortunately, it appears that the officer sustained only minor injuries in this collision and he did not require emergency medical treatment. But in many similar cases, the pedestrian suffers serious, critical, or even fatal injuries, forever changing their lives and the lives of their family members. When injuries are suffered at the hands of a negligent driver, a victim may be entitled to compensation.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. works tirelessly to help accident victims obtain the recoveries they deserve. We make ourselves available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide all accident victims with a free case consultation. If you or your family member has been injured in an accident, call us today locally at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442 and let us help you towards a path of recovery.
Prior Blog Entry:
Car Hits Nursing Home on North Side Chicago, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 3, 2013.
Resource:
Woman charged with DUI after striking cop on Ashland, by Rachel Cromidas, Chicago Tribune, published December 2, 2013.