Free Consultation
(314) 500-HURTDrunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Kendall County, IL. If an irresponsible drunk driver harmed you or a family member, call the Kendall County, IL drunk driving accident lawyers immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation consultation. We serve the injured and vulnerable in Kendall County and throughout Illinois by securing them the maximum compensation they are owed.
You can do everything right to protect yourself and your loved ones, but thoughtless drivers can still cause incredible devastation. Whether you were driving home from dinner or just running errands, all of a sudden your entire life was completely disrupted through no fault of your own. The Kendall County, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law to getting the best possible outcomes for our clients and seeing them made whole again. We know the medical bills are piling up, you you cannot earn a living right now and your life is not the same as it in the recent past. This burden is not yours to bear alone. With the compassions, skill and aggressive legal representation of our drunk driving accident lawyers, this too shall pass.
In our over 30 years of litigating and trying cases, we have recovered over $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our Kendall County, IL clients. Our case reviews are no-risk, no-obligation, and we do not charge any fees until the final verdict or settlement has been reached.
If you were hurt by a careless drunk driver, see how much your damages may be worth by utilizing our free personal injury calculator.
WDAC Error: no location found
Law enforcement will likely seek a guilty verdict in criminal court. However, you will still need a personal injury lawyer to stand up to the drunk driver in civil court and get you the monetary reimbursement you are owed. Skilled, seasoned and tenacious drunk driving accident lawyers can ensure you get maximum compensation by:
At Burger Law, we have over 30 years of experience handling all types of auto accident claims and getting full compensation for our clients.
Every crash is unique, and you can only truly know when to hire a personal injury lawyer by seeking a consultation with one. If the driver is taking responsibility for his actions and your injuries are minor and do not require much medical treatment, a lawyer likely will not be able to add much value to your claim. However, many other circumstances require an attorney for the best results:
At Burger Law, there is no risk or obligation when talking to us. Reach out to us now at (314) 500-HURT to speak directly to a drunk driving accident lawyer experienced with Illinois laws who will be direct with you about whether you need an attorney to get the best results in your case.
Drunk driving statistics can be pretty sobering. Every day 28 people die in accidents caused by drunk drivers, or about one death in just under an hour. While drunk driving accidents and deaths have steadily become less common in the last 40 years, drunk drivers still account for three-tenths of total traffic fatalities as of 2018. While safe driving campaigns and stiff punishments for drunk driving have definitely done a lot to make our roads safer, some reckless Kendall County, IL residents still choose to put others at risk because of a misplaced self-centeredness. When that happens and you or a loved one are injured, you are owed a full financial recovery and the negligent driver needs to be held accountable for what they did. The Kendall County, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law will use or skills and dedication to see wrongs made right.
The Illinois 2020 Crash Facts found that almost 20 percent of the 1,088 fatal crashes in the state involved a drunk driver. Alcohol was found in the symptoms of 37.1 percent of 448 deceased drivers who were tested.
While it is only illegal to drink and drive if your blood alcohol concentration is more than .008 percent, a level of even .02 percent is enough to considerably impede someone’s driving skills. At .02 percent blood alcohol concentration you experience a decline in sight, inability to multi-task, an altered mood and poor judgment. At .05 percent – the product of approximately three drinks – a person suffers from lowered coordination, reduced ability to trace movement, challenges steering and a slower response to unexpected things on the road. It is key to follow proper road safety and have a back up plan if you are not in the best condition to drive. Regrettably, sometimes you can do everything possible to stay safe and still be left to pick up the pieces after the terrible consequences of a reckless Kendall County, IL motorist disregarding your safety, driving while intoxicated and harming you or a family member. Just knowing the harsh penalties that come with a DWI conviction cannot truly compensate you and your family for all of the ways they have impacted your life. Trust in the experienced and proficient Kendall County, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Burger law to get you the full financial recovery you deserve. Call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT to discuss your options and start on the road to being made whole again.
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 driving under the influence becomes “aggravated driving under the influence” and a Class 4 Felony if:
Other instances in which the class of felony increases include:
There are five elements needed in order to prove negligence in a personal injury claim:
There are two factors that make drunk driving accident cases different from the majority of personal injury claims. Firstly, 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 specifically states that motorists have an obligation to “exercise due care to avoid colliding” with pedestrians or other vehicles. Meaning the first element is a given. Secondly, the legal theory of negligence per se states that anyone who violates a state statute is automatically considered to have breached their duty of care. Therefore, in drunk driving cases you only need to show that the driver was drunk in order to prove the first two elements. All your drunk driving accident lawyers will need to show at that point is that the accident caused your injuries and that you incurred losses as a result.
Negligence per se does not mean you will automatically be awarded the financial recovery you are owed; drunk drivers often do not want to be held accountable and their insurance companies do what they can to help their profits. That is why it is crucial to have committed and talented Kendall County, IL drunk driving accident lawyers to stand up for you and fight until you get the best results in your claim.
A driver is not the only one who may be held accountable in your claim. Other third parties include:
Dram shop rules allow you to sue a licensed alcohol vendor after a drunk driving accident if the accident caused you injuries. Illinois’ dram shop laws are explained in 235 ILCS 5/6-15 of the Illinois Liquor Control Act. Illinois’ dram shop law is different from many other states’ in that your drunk driving accident lawyers do not have to prove the vendor did anything wrong, such as sell alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. You just have to show:
You can only sue a social host — meaning someone who supplies their private guests with alcohol — if the driver liable for your injuries was not of legal age to drink and became inebriated at the private residence.
Each year the Illinois Comptroller sets dram shop liability limits on the maximum amount of money a person or organization can be required to pay in a dram shop claim. As of Jan. 20, 2022, the maximum is $77,787.30 for each person incurring damages, or $95,073.37 if the accident resulted in loss of support or loss of society due to the wrongful death of a loved one.
If you were injured by a vehicle that was not being driven by the owner, you may be able to make a claim against the owner. According to the theory of negligent entrustment, someone may owe you damages if they permit someone else to use a thing which is under the control of the actor if that would create an unreasonable risk of harm to others. In a drunk driving accident suit in Kendall County, 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 in no condition to operate a vehicle.
If you were injured by someone who earns a living as a driver, such as in a truck accident, bus accident or rideshare accident, the driver’s employer may have some liability. Examples of negligence on the part of the employer could include:
While drunk driving accident claims can seem pretty cut-and-dry, it is imperative to hire an experienced Kendall County, 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 responsible, but will also increase your compensation and secure you the full financial recovery you are owed.
Civil claims in the United States are based on the principle of being made whole. The idea behind the doctrine is that when someone is to blame for your injuries, you should be compensated to the extent that returns you to your state before the other person’s negligence. In many car accident claims, for example a simple fender-bender, that might mean paying for lost wages, physical therapy appointments and the physical strain that comes with rehabilitating from a lower back injury for a relatively short period of time. In the most tragic cases, for example if you lose a family member, no financial recovery can truly compensate you, but the financial recovery should be great enough to provide a least some sense of restitution.
Damages in a personal injury claim are broken down into three distinct groups:
In the case of future medical expenses or lost earning potential, drunk driving accident lawyers will make sure the settlement or verdict amount adjusts for inflation as well.
In addition, our Kendall County, IL attorneys have decades of experience winning cases in:
Call Burger Law Now
We hate bullies, including selfish drivers think they can do whatever they want and resistant insurance companies whose prioritize more money than morals. For that reason, each of our Kendall County-based drunk driving accident lawyers in Illinois has pledged their education and abilities to defending the rights of the injured and vulnerable. We have no interest in TV commercials or billboards. When we are not investigating and litigating cases, our drunk driving accident lawyers are regularly honing our lawyer skills to get the best results for our clients in Kendall County and throughout Illinois. We know your actions did not cause this trying time; someone else’s selfish behavior did. For the highest standard of legal advocacy, call the Kendall County, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.
We offer free consultations and are available 24/7 to take your call. Live chat, text, and virtual meetings are available.
Client Reviews
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!
View More Reviews on Google Maps and Yelp
521 W. Main Street Suite 201 O
Belleville, IL 62220
By appointment only
(618) 500-4878 GET DIRECTIONS332 S Michigan Ave Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60604
By appointment only
(312) 500-HURT GET DIRECTIONS100 Chesterfield Business Pkwy Suites 200-222
Chesterfield, MO 63005
By appointment only
(314) 648-8348 GET DIRECTIONSNO FEES UNTIL WE WIN YOUR CASE
We offer free consultations and are available 24/7 to take your call. Live chat, text, and virtual meetings are available.
or call us at
(314) 500-HURT