Hit and Injured by a Drunk Driver? Why You Might Need a Lawyer

While the incidence of drunk driving has decreased slightly, it is still a huge problem is a big city like Chicago. In 2014, the Chicago Police Department made 3,321 DUI arrests, which was down 2.2 percent from the previous year when there were 3,395 DUI arrests. (Reboot Illinois) Statewide, there were 307 drunk driving fatalities in 2015, which represents 0.31 percent of all traffic deaths and 1.7 percent increase from the year before. There were 14,343 DUI convictions in Illinois, and the cost to taxpayers for drunk driving fatalities was about $1.6 billion dollars. (MADD)

None of those numbers really matters when you are the one who has been injured by someone who should not have been behind the wheel. On top of that, when you consider that the number of DUI arrests only counts the one who were caught in the act, it does not make you feel confident about sharing the road with drivers who may be too intoxicated to operate their vehicle.

Liability of a drunk driver who causes an accident

When a drunk driver has injured you, you may be able to take legal action by filing a lawsuit against the driver that caused the crash. The driver's insurance company is responsible for settling your case because their insured was negligent when they chose to get behind the wheel and drive despite having had too much to drink. Because of being arrested and convicted of DUI, the at-fault driver will see his or her insurance rates go up, and they may have their license suspended or be required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle if they must drive to get back and forth to work or school.

Another option for recovery would be to file a lawsuit against the establishment that served the alcohol to the driver who injured you. Illinois has a dram shop law that allows an injured person to hold the restaurant, bar, or liquor store responsible when they sold alcohol to an individual who then goes out and causes an accident. You might need an experienced Chicago auto accident attorney because you do not have the benefit of more than 20 years of experience helping clients get the compensation they need when they have been injured. On your own you might not know what to do if the at-fault party was driving without insurance or even a valid driver’s license.

An attorney can protect your rights and negotiate fair compensation for you when you have been injured in a car crash with a drunk driver.

If you live in the Chicago area and you have been injured in an auto accident that was caused by the negligence of another driver, then make the right choice by calling Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C. at 312-600-9585 to schedule a free consultation with Chicago auto accident Neal Gainsberg about your injuries. You can also reach our firm through our contact form.