According to statistics from the Illinois Secretary of State, nearly 10,000 drivers were arrested for DUI in Cook County in 2012, leaving thousands of victims vulnerable to motor vehicle accident injuries and fatalities.
In recent weeks, the Chicago Tribune reported a man was charged with leaving the scene of an accident that left a woman trapped inside her vehicle upside down. Later the woman was taken to the hospital where her left hand had to be amputated as a result of the collision.
Police on the scene were able to capture the license plate number of the driver responsible and he was taken in and held on $100,000 bond. Investigation into the case had not yet reported alcohol-related driving as a factor, but regardless of a DUI charge, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury or death is a Class 4 felony in Illinois. It carries a possible sentence of jail time of up to three years.
A DUI is recognized by the state as a violent crime. Those guilty of leaving the scene of a DUI accident must face the consequences of their actions and punished according to the law. Our law firm is here to protect victims from these negligent crimes and help them exercise their legal rights.
The number of drivers leaving the scene of an accident is on an upswing in major cities, including Chicago, according to an article published by USA Today. The report listed a significant increase of fatalities as a result of hit-and-run collisions as documented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Data showed a 13.7 percent increase of fatal crashes over a three-year period with alcohol noted as a major factor of this growing trend.
Being a victim of a hit-and-run accident is traumatic and can involve long-term injuries, pain, and medical costs. You do not deserve to suffer alone. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury due to a negligent driver, contact an experienced Chicago car accident attorney today. You may be eligible for compensation.
