Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers El Paso, IL

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in El Paso, IL. If a reckless drunk driver harmed you or a loved one, call the El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyers immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation. We serve the injured and vulnerable in El Paso and throughout Illinois by fighting on their behalf so they can focus on healing.

You can do everything you are supposed to to keep other drivers, passengers and pedestrians safe, but reckless drivers can still put you in harm’s way and unfairly injure you. Whether you were coming back to town after a long weekend or just running errands, all of a sudden your entire life was completely disrupted when you did nothing wrong. The El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law have dedicated their lives to helping individuals and families in similar circumstances get peace and maximum financial recoveries when they may be feeling they have nowhere to turn. We know the medical bills are accumulating, you you cannot earn a living right now and everything seems different than it was just a short while ago. This burden is not yours to bear alone. With the dedication, skill and aggressive legal advocacy of our drunk driving accident lawyers, this too shall pass.

In our over 30 years of defending the rights of the injured, we have won over $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our El Paso, IL clients. Our case reviews are no-risk, no-obligation, and you do not owe us a thing until the final verdict or settlement has been reached.

If you were harmed by an irresponsible drunk driver, discover how much your damages may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

What Can El Paso, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Do for My Claim?

A prosecutor will likely do everything they can to convict a drunk driver criminally. Still, only a personal injury lawyer can get you full compensation for your injuries. Knowledgeable, veteran and persistent drunk driving accident lawyers can ensure you get justice by:

• Investigating your claim fully, including obtaining police reports, eyewitness testimony and medical records
• Connecting you with trusted doctors so you can heal fully
• Working alongside economic and medical experts to precisely value your damages
• Fighting back against the tricks insurance companies use to avoid paying you
• Proving negligence on the part of the intoxicated driver
• Negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance adjuster
• Filing a lawsuit when the insurance company is not offering the maximum compensation you deserve
• Taking your case in front of a judge and jury if the insurance adjuster will not be fair in mediation
• Fighting on your behalf until you get every nickel you are owed

At Burger Law, we know the ins-and-outs of every type of auto accident claim and know how to get great compensation.

Do I Need El Paso, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for My Claim?

The only way to know when to hire a personal injury lawyer is by having a professional examine the details of your case. If there is no dispute about who is at fault and your injuries are minor and only require an appointment with your primary care physician, it may not be worth it to hire an attorney. However, many other circumstances require legal representation for the best results:

• There is a dispute about liability. Drunk drivers who cause injuries will probably be prosecuted, and may avoid communicating with you and the insurance company in order to not face the harsh penalties of a DUI. While a capable defense lawyer may be able to get a drunk driver off on criminal charges, you can still sue a drunk driver if they were found not guilty in criminal court. Experienced drunk driving accident lawyers will know how to utilize the law in order to prove that the defendant were drunk and injured you.
• The insurance adjuster refuses to offer a full settlement. In a perfect world insurance companies would recognize their obligation when one of their policyholders drives drunk and injures you, far too often that does not happen. Even in the event that the driver is willing to be held accountable, the insurance company might try to convince you that your injuries were not actually caused by the accident or that a lawyer will only take money from you. Those are all deceptions aimed at devaluing your claim, and a knowledgeable drunk driving accident lawyer will not let them get away with them.
• The drunk driver is not the only one responsible. While a drunk driver is clearly liable, other parties may bear partial responsibility, such as a friend of the driver who knowingly let them use the car while drunk. Drunk driving accident lawyers will perform a comprehensive investigation and identify all liable parties. This is especially vital when the policy limits are not sufficient to pay for the full scope of your injuries.
• Your injuries will incur future medical expenses. The more grave your injuries the more medical treatment you will need, which makes valuing your damages more complex, and makes it more likely the insurance company will try to claim they do not have to pay for all of your medical expenses. Aggressive and compassionate drunk driving accident lawyers will not only be able to calculate and demand full compensation, but we can connect you to trusted physicians to make sure you get the medical treatment you need.

At Burger Law, we answer all of your questions for free. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT to talk directly to a drunk driving accident lawyer familiar with Illinois laws who will be direct with you about whether we can add to your claim.

How Common is Drunk Driving in El Paso, IL and the U.S.?

Understanding just how bad the problem of drinking and driving can be pretty sobering. Every day there are about 28 fatal drunk driving accidents, which is approximately one fatality every 52 minutes. While drunk driving accidents and fatalities have consistently been on the decline since 1982, drunk drivers still account for almost a third of total traffic deaths as of 2018. While organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and harsh punishments for drunk driving have definitely helped, some reckless El Paso, IL individuals still make the terrible decision to jeopardize others’ safety while not understanding or not caring about the potential consequences of their actions. When that happens and you or a loved one are injured, you deserve to be fairly reimbursed with a complete recovery and the reckless driver needs to pay for what they did. The El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law will use or skills and dedication to see wrongs made right.

The Illinois 2020 Crash Facts states that almost one-fifth of the 1,088 accidents that caused fatalities in the state involved alcohol. Of 448 deceased drivers who were tested for alcohol, over a third tested positive.

Alcohol’s Impact on Driving Abilities | El Paso, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

While the legal limit for alcohol consumption before driving is .08 percent blood alcohol concentration, a level of only .02 percent is enough to substantially hinder someone’s driving skills. At .02 percent blood alcohol concentration the body undergoes a decline in sight, inability to multi-task, exaggerated confidence and inadequate judgment. At .05 percent – the product of approximately three alcohol beverages – a driver experiences lowered coordination, reduced ability to trace movement, challenges steering and a slower response to unexpected things on the road. It is key to do you part in protecting other drivers, passengers and pedestrians and have a back up plan if you are intoxicated. Regrettably, sometimes you can do everything possible to stay safe and still be left reeling from the horrible and unfair consequences of a thoughtless El Paso, IL motorist making a selfish decision, driving drunk and injuring you or a loved one. Just knowing that the person who hurt you will face harsh repercussions in a criminal case cannot truly compensate you and your family for all of the ways they have impacted your life. You need the accomplished and tenacious El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Burger law to to see things made right. Call Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your options and begin on the path to being made whole again.

Drunk Driving Laws in El Paso and Illinois

Under to 625 ILCS 5/11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a Class A Misdemeanor. However, a DUI becomes “aggravated driving under the influence” and a Class 4 Felony if:

• The driver had more than two previous DUI offenses
• An accident occurred that resulted in great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement to someone else
• The driver caused an accident in a school zone that lead to personal injury

Third and fourth violations are Class 2 Felonies, a fifth violation is a Class 1 Felony, and sixth and subsequent violations are Class X Felonies.

How Do You Prove a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in El Paso, IL?

There are five elements needed in order to prove negligence in a personal injury claim:

1. Duty of Care — That the defendant needed to use reasonable care to avoid injuring you.
2. Breach of Duty — That the driver failed or was negligent in that duty.
3. Cause in Fact — That the accident caused your injuries.
4. Proximate Cause — That the accident would not have happened but for the defendant’s failure to use reasonable care.
5. Damages — That the accident led to tangible loss, such as economic damages like damage to your car as well as noneconomic damages. It is important to mention that in personal injury claims you cannot make a claim for for noneconomic damages if you have not sustained a monetary loss.

There are two factors that make drunk driving accident claims different from the majority of personal injury claims. Firstly, 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 dictates that motorists are to “exercise due care to avoid colliding” with other cars, pedestrians and bicyclists. Meaning you do not have to prove the driver owed you a duty of care, as it is already stipulated under the law. Secondly, the legal principle of negligence per se means that anyone who violates a state statute automatically did not act in a reasonable manner to avoid injuring you. Therefore, in drunk driving cases the first two elements are granted automatically as long as you can demonstrate that the driver was intoxicated. All your drunk driving accident lawyers will need to demonstrate is that the driver caused the accident and your injuries.

Negligence per se does not mean you will automatically receive the money you are owed; the insurance company will still be motivated to pay you as little as possible. That is why it is critical to have tenacious and experienced El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyers to stand up to bullies and get the financial recovery you are owed.

Who Else Can I Sue for My Drunk Driving Accident Injuries in El Paso, IL?

The driver is clearly to blame for their reckless decision making, but drunk driving accident lawyers experienced with Illinois law will be able to conduct a full investigation and determine if any of the other following parties share liability:

A Bar, Restaurant or Social Host

Many states have what is called a dram shop rule, under which you may be able sue a licensed alcohol vendor after a drunk driving accident if you were injuries. Illinois’ dram shop laws are stipulated in 235 ILCS 5/6-15 of the Illinois Liquor Control Act. Illinois’ dram shop law is different from many other states’ in that the drunk driver did not have to show significant impairment when they were sold alcohol in order for the vendor to be liable. You just have to show:

• That a vendor-patron relationship existed, which you can show with surveillance video, receipts or eyewitness or employee depositions
• That the customer they served caused the drunk driving accident
• That the vendor is responsible for the patron being drunk

You can only sue a social host — meaning someone who supplies their private guests with alcohol — if the person who caused your accident was under the age of 21 and became drunk at the private residence.

Each year the Illinois Comptroller sets dram shop liability limits on how much a vendor or social host is required to pay out. As of Jan. 20, 2022, those limits are $77,787.30 for each person incurring damages, or $95,073.37 if the accident led to loss of support or loss of society due to the wrongful death of a loved one.

The Owner of the Vehicle

If you were injured by a vehicle that was not being driven by the owner, the owner may be responsible for a portion of your damages. According to the theory of negligent entrustment, a person may be liable if they permit a third person to engage in an activity which is under the control of the actor if if permitting the activity creates an inherent risk. In a drunk driving accident case in El Paso, IL, that means that you must show that the owner of the vehicle purposely allowed the other driver to use their car, and that the owner knew or should have known that the driver was too drunk to drive.

The Driver’s Employer

If you were injured by a commercial driver, for example in a truck accident, bus accident or rideshare accident, you may be able to make a claim against the company that contracted and directed the driver. Negligence that could result in liability could include:

• Failure to perform a sufficient background check
• Ignoring troubling aspects in the background check
• Ignoring previous accusations of intoxication
• Not abiding by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug testing guidelines

While drunk driving accident claims can seem pretty cut-and-dry, it is imperative to hire an experienced El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyer so they can conduct a comprehensive investigation into your claim. Doing so will not only make sure every negligent party is held accountable, but will also increase your compensation and secure you the full financial recovery you are owed.

What Damages Are Available for My El Paso, IL Drunk Driving Accident Injuries?

Personal injury claims in the United States are based on the doctrine of being made whole. The idea behind the doctrine is that when someone is at-fault for your damages, you should receive a financial recovery that is equal to the economic loss and physical pain their negligence put you through. In many car accident claims, for example a simple fender-bender, being made whole means recovering compensation money you lost from work while recovering, physical therapy appointments and the pain involved with rehabilitating from a neck injury for a few months. In the worst cases, for example if you or a loved one loses a limb, no amount of money can truly compensate you, but the financial recovery should be high enough to encapsulate the terrible loss you have sustained.

Damages in a personal injury claim are broken down into three distinct groups:

1. Economic damages — This refers to the total sum of the money you either lost out on or had to spend because of your injuries. It is a firm dollar amount. Examples include:
   • Medical expenses — That includes any emergency room visits, surgeries, medications, chiropractic appointments and in-home care. You will also be reimbursed for any treatment, joint replacements or replacement assistive devices you may need in the future.
   • Lost wages and lost earning capacity — You will be reimbursed for full amount of the wages you lost from not being physically able to work. If your injury caused a disability that no longer allows you to earn a living as you once did, you will also be compensated for the salary you would have made in the future, but for the injuries.
   • Out-of-pocket expenses — If you had to pay for transportation to and from medical appointments, or had to invest in childcare while you were recovering, you need to be reimbursed for that too.

   If your injuries result in future medical bills or lost earning potential, drunk driving accident lawyers will ensure the recovery adjusts for inflation as well.

2. Noneconomic damages — 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.2 refers to noneconomic damages as “intangible” damages, “including but not limited to”:
   • Pain and suffering refers to the physical and mental hardships you have been put through, which can include anything from difficulty standing up and sitting down to having PTSD anymore.
   • Disability if you sustained permanent physical or cognitive challenges after the accident.
   • Disfigurement if the accident caused lasting scarring.
   • Loss of consortium if you or a loved one’s injuries prevent you and your significant other from the companionship and intimate relationships you once had.
   • Loss of society if the injuries impede you from giving or your loved ones from receiving the same guidance and care that was once offered.
3. Punitive damages — These are typically not included in personal injury recoveries, and are intended to punish the drunk driver and discourage others from making the same mistakes. When we sue drunk drivers, we always pursue punitive damages. Not only does that help win you the money you are owed, but it also helps secure a fair settlement from the insurance company because there is no coverage for punitive damages According to 735 ILCS 5/2-604.1, you and your drunk driving accident lawyers can argue in favor of punitive damagers in personal injury claims for especially appalling behavior. It is clear to us that anyone who drives under the influence is demonstrating a brazen lack of respect for your safety.

In addition, we have extensive experience winning the following cases for our El Paso, IL clients:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

CALL BURGER LAW NOW

El Paso, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Burger Law

We hate bullies, including reckless drivers think they can do whatever they want and resistant insurance companies focus more on money than morals. That is why each of our El Paso-based drunk driving accident lawyers in Illinois has pledged their lives to fighting on behalf of the injured and vulnerable. We have no interest in TV commercials or billboards. When we are not working tirelessly on one of our client’s claims, our drunk driving accident lawyers are regularly honing our lawyer skills to deliver great recoveries for our clients in El Paso and throughout Illinois. We know your actions did not cause this trying time; someone else’s selfish decisions did. For knowledgeable, passionate and aggressive representation, call the El Paso, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

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