Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Drunk driving is illegal in every state across the nation. The rules governing drunk and impaired driving may differ slightly between states but the overarching result is the same; if you drink and drive, you are breaking the law and you may face punishment if you are caught. In Chicago, drunk driving is taken very seriously because it poses a threat to everyone on the road. Drunk driving accidents are common because alcohol reduces a driver’s ability to perceive details and nuances when operating a vehicle and lessens a driver’s ability to react to hazards in the roads.
When a Chicago-area car accident occurs and it is due to the negligence of a drunk or impaired driver, that driver may face criminal and/or traffic offenses brought by the State of Illinois. These charges can result in a driver facing jail time, losing his or her license to drive, being sentenced to community service or even being forced to pay large fines and fees. But these may not be the only damages experienced by the impaired driver. In addition to any claims brought by the state, the victims of a drunk driving crash may choose to seek financial relief against the responsible driver for any and all injuries they sustain. These claims can be brought with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Chicago and can help someone who was injured receive compensation for medical expenses incurred, time missed from work, and even pain and suffering.
Early reports indicate that an Illinois State Police trooper was injured on the job Saturday morning when an allegedly drunk driver collided into the officer’s vehicle. The officer was stopped on the side of Interstate 64 in Saint Louis shortly after 3:30 a.m. on Saturday. He had pulled over one driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and was in the process of arresting that driver when a second vehicle approached. According to officials, it was the second vehicle that struck the trooper’s car as it was stopped, causing a collision to the rear of the police car.
At the time of the impact, the trooper was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and the first suspected drunk driver was in the rear seat. The trooper was able to climb out of his own vehicle and the arrested suspect had to be helped from the car by a passerby. Following the impact, the trooper made the determination that the second driver was under the influence and initiated procedures to arrest that driver as well.
Early morning hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are known as high risk times for drunk drivers to be present on the roads in an around Chicago and troopers often face these risks as part of their jobs. The truth is that even the safest, most cautious driver can be involved in an accident if another driver on the road is under the influence or otherwise acting in a reckless manner.
If you have been involved in a car accident in Chicago with a drunk driver and you were injured, make sure your rights are protected and make sure you have an advocate on your side. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide you with a free case consultation regarding your accident and your injuries. There is no obligation on your part for taking advantage of our free consultation and everything discussed will remain confidential. If you have been involved in an accident, call us today toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and let us help you get a recovery you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Retained for 1-57 Peotone Pile-Up Case, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published March 6, 2014.
Resource:
Illinois trooper hit by drunk driver while arresting different drunk driver, police say, by Denise Hollinshed, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, published March 9, 2014.