Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Lincoln Park, IL

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Lincoln Park, IL. If you or a loved one was injured because someone else broke the rules of the road and got behind the wheel drunk, call the Lincoln Park, IL drunk driving accident lawyers immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation. We serve the injured and vulnerable in Lincoln Park and throughout Illinois by fighting on their behalf so they can focus on healing.

You can do everything possible to protect yourself and your loved ones, but thoughtless drivers can still cause unfathomable 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 Lincoln Park, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law have pledged their careers to helping individuals and families in similar circumstances get peace and maximum compensation when they may be feeling like no one could help them. We know the medical bills keep coming in, you may not be able to work because of your injuries and everything seems different than it was before your accident. You do not have to go through this alone. With the commitment, expertise and tenacious 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 gotten over $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our Lincoln Park, IL clients. Talking to us is free, and you do not owe us a thing until we win your case.

If you were harmed by a thoughtless drunk driver, discover how much your injuries may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

What Can Lincoln Park, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Do for My Claim?

The criminal justice system will likely hold a drunk driver accountable 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 full compensation for your injuries. Talented, veteran and relentless drunk driving accident lawyers can ensure you get the best possible financial recovery by:

• Investigating your claim comprehensively, including acquiring police reports, eyewitness testimony and medical records
• Connecting you with trusted doctors so you can recover completely
• Working alongside economic and medical experts to know exactly how much your damages are worth
• Combating the tricks insurance companies use to avoid compensating you
• Proving negligence on the part of the intoxicated driver
• Negotiating for maximum compensation with the insurance company
• Filing a lawsuit when the insurance company is not offering the complete compensation you deserve
• Taking your case to court if the insurance adjuster will not be fair in mediation
• Standing by your side until justice has been achieved

At Burger Law, we have over 30 years of experience handling all types of auto accident claims and getting full compensation for our clients.

Do I Need Lincoln Park, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for My Claim?

That depends on the specifics of your case, and if you have never been injured in an accident before it may be difficult to determine when to hire a personal injury lawyer. If the driver is taking responsibility for his actions and your injuries are minor and do not require much medical treatment, it may not be worth it to hire an attorney. However, many other circumstances require an attorney for the best results:

• The other driver will not admit fault. Drunk drivers who injure people will go in front of a judge in criminal court, and may be motivated not to cooperate in order to not face fines, a suspended license and possibly jail time. While drunk driving charges can sometimes be dropped or reduced, 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 cross-examine the drunk driver in a deposition in order to get you the results you deserve.
• The insurance adjuster refuses to offer a full settlement. Ideally insurance companies would realize their obligation when one of their policyholders injures you in a drunk driving accident, far too often that does not happen. Even if the driver does take responsibility, the insurance company might try to say that your injuries were not actually caused by the accident or you waited too long to seek medical treatment. None of that is true, and an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer will fight back and let the insurance adjuster know we mean business.
• There are other parties you can make a claim against. While a drunk driver is obviously at fault, other parties may bear partial responsibility, such as a alcohol vendor that overserved the driver. Drunk driving accident lawyers will carry out a detailed investigation and identify anyone who bears responsibility for the accident. Finding other liable parties is vital when your damages exceed the driver’s insurance policy limits.
• Your injuries will incur future medical expenses. The more serious your injuries the more medical treatment you will need, which makes calculating the full value of your damages more complex, and motivates the insurance adjuster to try to devalue your damages as much as possible. Persistent and knowledgeable drunk driving accident lawyers will not only fight hard to get you the compensation you need and are owed, but we will ensure you receive all of the medical you need to recover.

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 honest with you about whether we can add to your claim.

How Common is Drunk Driving in Lincoln Park, IL and the U.S.?

Seeing how many people choose to drink and drive can be incredibly sobering. Every day 28 people die in accidents caused by drunk drivers, which is approximately one death every 52 minutes. While drunk driving accidents and fatalities have consistently been on the decline in the last four decades, drunk drivers are still responsible for three-tenths of all auto related fatalities. While safe driving campaigns and harsh punishments for drunk driving have definitely done a lot to make our communities safer, some selfish Lincoln Park, IL individuals still make the irresponsible decision to disregard others’ well-being because of a misplaced self-centeredness. When that happens and you or a loved one are injured, you deserve to be justly compensated with a full recovery and the careless driver needs to pay for the harm they have caused. The Lincoln Park, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law will use or skills and dedication to see wrongs made right.

The Illinois 2020 Crash Facts reported that almost 20 percent of the 1,088 fatal crashes in the state involved alcohol. Alcohol was found in the symptoms of almost 40 percent of 448 deceased drivers who were tested.

How Alcohol Affects Driving | Lincoln Park, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

While it is only illegal to drink and drive if your blood alcohol concentration is over .008 percent, a level of just .02 percent is sufficient to greatly reduce someone’s ability to drive. At .02 percent blood alcohol concentration you experience a decline in visual functions, inability to do two things at once, a change in mood and loss of judgment. At .05 percent – the product of approximately three alcohol beverages – a person suffers from lowered coordination, reduced ability to follow moving objects, challenges using the steering wheel and not being able to respond quickly to unexpected things on the road. It is imperative to exercise great caution and let someone else take the wheel if you have had too much to drink. Unfortunately, sometimes you can follow all the rules ourselves and still be left to pick up the pieces after the catastrophic consequences of a reckless Lincoln Park, IL motorist disregarding your safety, getting behind the wheel while intoxicated and harming you or someone you love. Just knowing that the negligent driver will likely face criminal charges, steep fees, restrictions on their license and possibly jail time does not make you whole again. You need the savvy and skilled Lincoln Park, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Burger law to get you the full financial recovery you deserve. Call Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your options and start on the road to healing.

Drunk Driving Laws in Lincoln Park and Illinois

Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, drunk or drug impaired driving is a Class A Misdemeanor. However, a it becomes “aggravated driving under the influence” and a Class 4 Felony if:

• It is a third or subsequent violation
• The driver caused a motor vehicle accident that resulted in great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement to someone else
• The driver caused an accident in a school zone that resulted in bodily harm

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 Lincoln Park, IL?

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

1. Duty of Care — That the driver had a responsibility to avoid harming you.
2. Breach of Duty — That the driver did not act in a way that kept you safe.
3. Cause in Fact — That the accident led to your injuries.
4. Proximate Cause — That the accident would not have happened but for the driver’s failure to use reasonable care.
5. Damages — That you have sustained losses, such as economic damages like damage to your car as well as pain and suffering. In personal injury claims you can only recover noneconomic damages if there were associated economic damages.

There are two aspects that make drunk driving accident lawsuits different from most other personal injury claims. Firstly, 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 dictates that motorists are legally compelled to “exercise due care to avoid colliding” with anyone else on the road. 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 stipulates 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 duty of care and breach of duty. All your drunk driving accident lawyers will need to show is that the driver caused the accident and injured you.

Negligence per se does not mean you will automatically be awarded the money you are owed; the truth is that many drunk drivers try to avoid taking responsibility and their insurance company will do what they can to help them. That is why it is key to have tenacious and talented Lincoln Park, IL drunk driving accident lawyers by your side to get the best results in your claim.

Is Anybody Else Liable for My Drunk Driving Accident Injuries in Lincoln Park, IL?

The driver is clearly to blame for their irresponsible decision making, but drunk driving accident lawyers familiar 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

Dram shop laws permit you to sue a bar or restaurant after a drunk driving accident if you were harmed. Illinois’ dram shop laws are stipulated in 235 ILCS 5/6-15 of the Illinois Liquor Control Act. Illinois’ dram shop law more liberal than 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 someone underage. You just have to show:

• That the establishment sold the driver alcohol, which you can demonstrate through recordings, receipts or eyewitness testimony
• 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 holds a private party — if the driver at fault for your injuries was not old enough to drink legally and became intoxicated at the private residence.

Every year the Illinois Comptroller stipulates dram shop liability limits on how much compensation you can receive in a dram shop case. As of Jan. 20, 2022, the maximum is $77,787.30 for each injured party, 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.

The Owner of the Vehicle

If the driver was driving someone else’s car, the owner may also owe you compensation. In a negligent entrustment case, it is negligent to permit someone else to use a thing which is under the control of the actor if if permitting the activity creates an inherent risk. In a drunk driving accident claim in Lincoln Park, IL, that means that you must show that the owner of the vehicle purposely gave the keys to the drunk driver, and that the owner knew or should have known that the driver was too drunk to drive.

The Driver’s Employer

If your accident was caused by someone who works as a driver, such as 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 an adequate background check
• Ignoring previous DUIs in the background check
• Ignoring previous reports of drunk driving
• Not adhering to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug testing requirements

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

What Damages Are Available for My Lincoln Park, IL Drunk Driving Accident Injuries?

Tort claims in the United States are based on the doctrine of making one whole. “Being made whole” means that when another party injures you, 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 a low-speed crash in a parking lot, that might mean paying for lost wages, physical therapy appointments and the pain that comes with rehabilitating from a lower back injury for a relatively short period of time. In the most destructive cases, for example if you or a loved one becomes paralyzed, no financial recovery can genuinely make you whole, but the amount should be great enough to provide a least some sense of comfort.

You can typically recover three types of damages in a personal injury claim:

1. Economic damages — This the totaling of all the bills and lost income related to your injury. It is a firm dollar amount. Examples include:
   • Medical expenses — That includes any urgent care, operations, prescription or over-the-counter meds, physical therapy appointments and in-home nursing. You will also receive compensation for any medical expenses that will arise in the future.
   • Lost wages and lost earning capacity — You will be reimbursed for full amount of the wages you lost from not being able to work while you recovered. If your injury caused a long-term or permanent injury that no longer allows you to perform the tasks required of your job, you will also be compensated for the money you would have made in the future, but for the injuries.
   • Out-of-pocket expenses — If you had to pay for gas to and from medical appointments, or had to invest in childcare while you were recovering, you deserve a financial recovery for that too.

   If we have to take into consideration future medical bills or lost earning capacity, drunk driving accident lawyers will refer to their network of economic experts to be able to precisely account for inflation.

2. Noneconomic damages — 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.2 defines noneconomic damages as “intangible” damages, “including but not limited to”:
   • Pain and suffering refers to the physical and emotional effects on your well-being, which can be anything anything from pain when carrying groceries in to the emotional impact of not being able to engage in the same activities anymore.
   • Disability if you have permanent physical or cognitive difficulties because of the accident.
   • Disfigurement if your injuries result in lasting scarring.
   • Loss of consortium if you or a loved one’s injuries impede you and your spouse from the affection and intimate relationships you once shared.
   • 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 claims, and are meant to punish the drunk driver and deter others from making the same mistakes. Punitive damages can — and should — be sought when making a civil claim against a drunk driver. Not only does that help secure you the money you are owed, but it also helps secure a fair settlement from the insurance company as their policyholders do not pay for punitive damages in their policies Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-604.1, you and your drunk driving accident lawyers can seek punitive damagers in personal injury claims for especially reckless conduct. At Burger Law, we have learned that anyone who drives intoxicated is very aware of the danger their actions pose.

In addition, our Lincoln Park, IL attorneys have decades of experience winning cases in:

• 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

Lincoln Park, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Burger Law

We cannot stand bullies, including irresponsible drivers think they can do whatever they want and resistant insurance companies who care more about their profits than doing the right thing. That is why each of our Lincoln Park-based drunk driving accident lawyers in Illinois has devoted their careers to defending the rights of the injured and vulnerable. You will not see us on TV or billboards. When we are not working tirelessly on one of our client’s claims, our drunk driving accident lawyers are regularly sharpening our lawyer skills to deliver maximum compensation for our clients in Lincoln Park and throughout Illinois. We know you deserve it because we know you did nothing to put yourself in this situation; someone else’s dangerous decisions did. For accomplished, empathetic and tenacious representation, call the Lincoln Park, 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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