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Chicago Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

After a drunk driving accident in Chicago, you may be wondering what to do next. You cannot count on the drunk driver’s insurance company to treat you fairly in paying your claim. You need a Chicago drunk driving accident attorney on your side who will fight diligently for your right to financial compensation for your medical bills and expenses, lost income and pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Even if the driver who caused your accident is convicted and given the full sentence available under law, there is no guarantee that you will receive a dime in compensation for the losses you have suffered. This is because your personal injury or wrongful death claim is a matter for the civil court.

Duncan Law Group has recovered millions of dollars for auto accident victims, including:

  • $2,100,000.00 verdict: accident victim suffered serious back injuries
  • $1,800,000.00 settlement: accident victim suffered an arm injury
  • $700,000.00 settlement: accident victim suffered a herniated disc
  • $700,000.00 settlement: accident victim suffered a lumbar injury
  • $600,000.00 settlement: accident victim suffered a herniated disc

A Chicago auto accident attorney from Duncan Law Group can help recover what you’ve lost. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Negotiating a Settlement with the Insurance Company in Chicago

You might think that it should be a simple matter to recover damages for a drunk driving accident – after all, the drunk driver was clearly at fault, right? Unfortunately, insurance companies will frequently fight tooth and nail to avoid paying even on this type of claim. For example, Illinois is a comparative negligence state, meaning that the plaintiff in a personal injury case may be found to be partially at fault for causing an accident, and his or her award may be reduced by their own percentage of fault.

The insurance company may try to argue that you were to blame for part or even all of the drunk driving accident. Furthermore, they are likely to do everything they can to minimize the value of your claim by disputing the scope and severity of your injuries and the impact they have had on your life. You have already been through enough and shouldn’t be forced to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Duncan Law Group for a free case consultation with a Chicago drunk driving accident attorney to learn more about how our law firm can help you!

Illinois Dram Shop Law

In the state of Illinois, the legal limit for blood alcohol level (BAC) while operating a motor vehicle is .08. If you were hit by a drunk driver in Chicago, or anywhere else in the state, you may not realize that you may be able to file a claim against more than one party.

Are Bartenders Liable for Drunk Drivers in Chicago?

According to the dram shop law in Illinois – which is also known as the Liquor Control Act – victims of drunk driving accidents may also be able to pursue compensation from the establishment that served alcohol to the intoxicated driver  before they got behind the wheel.

This could include, but is not limited to, a bar or restaurant. Unlike the dram shop laws in several other states, Illinois law does not require the victim to prove that the establishment was aware of the fact that the driver was already intoxicated, or showed signs of intoxication, at the time that they were served alcohol.

Proving Liability Against Establishments Who Serve in Chicago

An establishment could be held liable for damages, including possible punitive damages, if it can be proven that:

  • The establishment in question sold alcohol to the driver
  • The same driver caused the accident in which you were injured
  • The business was the proximate cause of the driver’s intoxication
  • The driver’s intoxication was a “major cause” of your injuries

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

Drinking and driving is a serious problem throughout the state of Illinois. According to the public advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), there were 278 fatalities caused by people driving under the influence (DUI) in the last year alone, a figure which makes up 30 percent of all car accident deaths.

In 2019, over 26,200 DUI arrests were made in Illinois and 90% of all drivers arrested for a DUI lost their driving privileges.

Fortunately, law enforcement is cracking down on drunk drivers. The penalties for driving under the influence are harsh in Illinois, such as a minimum prison sentence of three years for causing a fatal crash while driving drunk and a maximum sentence of 28 years and $25,000 in fines.

Contact Us Our Chicago Drunk Driving Attorneys for a Free Consultation Today

Duncan Law Group has been representing accident victims for more than a decade, so we truly understand just how devastating the aftermath of a DUI accident can be. Not only can it result in hefty medical expenses and time spent away from work, but you may also be forced to endure a great deal of suffering, especially if a loved one was a victim of wrongful death in the collision. Our Chicago drunk driving accident attorneys want to ensure that you are fairly compensated for all of the losses that you have experienced, so we encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation.

You can trust that your drunk driving accident lawsuit will be in capable hands when you come to Duncan Law Group for help, so there is no reason why you should wait any longer to take the first step. We offer case evaluations during a free consultation in Cook County. Call now to get started!