If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunk driver, you have the right to compensation. Under Illinois law, intoxicated motorists are responsible for compensating the people they injure for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability, and disfigurement. Intoxicated motorists must compensate the families of the people they kill for their “loss of society”, or the loss of their relationship with their loved one. In addition to compensation, intoxicated drivers may also be held liable for punitive damages to discourage them from driving drunk in the future. If you have suffered at the hands of a drunk driver, contact a skilled Chicago drunk driving accidents attorney that can inform you of your legal rights and the best way forward to collect damages for your injuries and/or loss.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, drunk drivers are involved one out of every three fatal accidents in the United States. In addition, roughly 30 people per day (or more than one person per hour) are killed in an accident involving a drunk driver. It is widely known that driving while intoxicated severely impairs the judgment of the driver. This is why under Illinois law (and the laws of most other states), a driver that is legally intoxicated and is involved in an accident is automatically considered liable regardless of the other circumstances surrounding the incident.
Any driver in Illinois that is 21 or over is considered legally drunk when his/her blood alcohol content (BAC) level is .08 or higher. Drivers under the age of 21 can be held liable for an accident if they have any trace of alcohol at all in their system.
In addition to filing a claim against the driver, the injured person and the family of people killed by drunk drivers may also have rights against the business that provided the alcohol to the drunk driver. Under Illinois law, this type of liability is often known as “dram shop liability.” Persons serving alcohol to minors can also be held liable for the injuries or death caused by the drunk driver. Finally, if the intoxicated driver is employed and “on the clock” at the time of the incident, his/her employer can also be held responsible.
If you or your loved one have been a victim of a drunk driver, it is important that you contact the lawyers at Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. immediately. HM&M has a proven track record of obtaining swift and just compensation against drunk drivers and against the bar or other shops that provided the alcohol. Contact an experienced Chicago drunk driving accidents lawyer at HM&M today for a free consultation.
For a free consultation, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. today at 312-553-4900 or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.
