Recovering After a Chicago Drunk Driving Car Accident

Recovering After a Chicago Drunk Driving Car Accident Few accidents are harder to understand than a Chicago drunk driving accident. For decades, state and federal governments, as well as several major non-profit organizations, have devoted millions of dollars to prevent drivers from getting behind the wheel after they have had too much to drink. However, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), between 2003 and 2012, over 3,800 people were killed in Illinois drunk driving accidents. After someone is injured in a drunk driving accident, they are legally entitled to bring a claim for compensation against the at-fault party. Often, establishing that an intoxicated driver is at fault for an accident is fairly straightforward; however, certain complications can arise. For example, under the Illinois comparative fault rule, a party’s total compensation must be reduced by their own degree of fault. Thus, a drunk driver may be able to reduce their liability by arguing that the accident victim was partially at fault for the collision. Further, because Illinois employs a modified comparative fault doctrine, if the drunk driver can prove that the other party was 50 percent at fault or more, then the other party will not be able to recover for their injuries at all. In this way, having an attorney assist in the preparation of a Chicago drunk driving case is imperative because an attorney can not only help accident victims recover more robust damages awards, but can also reduce the chances of an accident victim being precluded from recovering. Drunk Driver Hits Police Car, Injuring Two Officers Last month, a man was charged with drunk driving after he struck a police car that was traveling through an intersection with a green light. According to a recent news report, the accident occurred when a driver ran a red light near the 5600 block of West Lawrence Avenue. As the motorist ran the red light, he struck a police SUV that was carrying two officers. Both officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the collision. The motorist was also hospitalized, but is expected to make a full recovery. As law enforcement was investigating the scene, it was determined that the motorist may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, police have not disclosed the results of any chemical tests at this time. The man was charged with DUI, and issued several traffic tickets, including failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and running a red light. Have You Been Injured in a Chicago DUI Accident? If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Chicago drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. At the Illinois personal injury law firm of Abels & Annes, P.C., we represent injury victims in all types of car accident claims, including Illinois DUI crashes. We have collected millions of dollars on behalf of our clients, and we look forward to seeing how we can help you. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation, call 855-529-2442. Calling is risk-free, because there is no obligation to move forward with your case unless it is your honest desire to do so.