A Chicago man was hit and critically injured while walking to his car in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Douglas shortly after midnight on June 1. The collision occurred in the 300 block of East 47th Street, when the victim, a 38-year-old man, was stuck by a vehicle that had pulled away from a curb and crossed several traffic lanes, according to Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, but Wentworth District officers were able to later apprehend the driver, subsequently questioning him about the incident. Alcohol was suspected to have played a role in the hit-and-run accident, said Estrada.
Hit-and-run accidents and drunk driving accidents commonly coincide. For one reason or another, impaired drivers who cause accidents, including injury-causing accidents, fail to remain at the scene and ensure that victims receive medical attention if required. By law, all motorists are required to stop and remain at the scene of an accident. Failing to do so can subject a driver to criminal consequences.
Compensation for Victims Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident
In addition to the negligence of a hit-and-run, the possibility that alcohol played a role in the accident further highlights the fact that drunk driving is a careless and tremendously dangerous act. While victims injured in a drunk driving accident may feel as though they will automatically be able to recover their damages from the wrongdoer, the fact remains that criminal court proceedings do not award victims damages. In order to recover compensation, injured DUI accident victims and their families must pursue legal recourse through a civil court – in other words, by filing a personal injury claim.
Personal injury claims will be used to present evidence that another driver should be held at-fault for causing an accident, as well as liable for the harm they caused victims and their loved ones. When compiled effectively and supported by clear and convincing evidence, a personal injury claim will allow victims and their families to recover monetary compensation to cover any physical, emotional, and / or financial damages they incurred as the result of an accident. Such damages may include the costs of past and future medical expenses, lost work wages and future earnings, pain and suffering, and emotional injuries, among others.
In addition to recovering these forms of damages, drunk driving accident claims may also afford victims and their loved ones the opportunity to recover punitive damages. A form of exemplary damages, punitive damages serve to further punish wrongdoers for intentional misconduct and /or gross acts of negligence and to deter others from committing similar acts. When punitive damages are applicable – as they often are in drunk driving accident cases – a seasoned Chicago personal injury attorney can use this opportunity to secure the maximum compensation possible for victims and families.
Retain the Representation Needed to Protect Your Rights
If you or your loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident or in a hit-and-run accident, you have the right to seek a recovery of your damages. As drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident are highly negligent and explicitly illegal actions, there may also be the possibility that punitive damages will be applicable in your case. By speaking with an experienced Chicago accident attorney from Duncan Law Group, you can learn more about your rights as a victim, how to file a personal injury claim, and the ways in which the firm can fight for the maximum compensation possible. Contact the firm to learn more about your rights.