Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Markham, IL

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Markham, IL. If a selfish drunk driver injured you or someone you love, call the Markham, 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 Markham and throughout Illinois by standing up to bullies and getting them the financial recovery they deserve.

You can do everything right to protect yourself and your loved ones, but reckless drivers can still change your life in an instant. Whether you were coming back to town after a long weekend or lazily driving around on a Saturday, all of a sudden your entire life was completely disrupted through no fault of your own. The Markham, IL drunk driving accident lawyers at Burger Law have devoted their careers to helping people like you get justice and maximum compensation when they may be feeling like there was no way out. We know the medical bills are accumulating, you you cannot earn a living right now and it is hard to get the same enjoyment out of life that you did just a short while ago. We will fight for you until there is nothing left to fight. With the dedication, expertise and forceful legal advocacy of our drunk driving accident lawyers, this too shall pass.

In our more than 30 years of experience, we have recovered more than $175 million in verdicts and settlements that the vulnerable in Markham and throughout Illinois and Missouri were owed. Our case reviews are no-risk, no-obligation, and we do not charge any fees until we win your case.

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

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

Law enforcement will likely file charges against the drunk driver who caused the accident. But, 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, experienced and aggressive drunk driving accident lawyers can ensure you get the best possible financial recovery by:

• Investigating your claim comprehensively, including acquiring key evidence of culpability and your injuries
• Connecting you with trusted doctors so you can recover fully
• Reaching out to our economic and medical experts to know exactly how much your claim is worth
• Combating the tactics insurance companies use to avoid compensating 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 complete compensation you deserve
• Taking your case to court 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 have over 30 years of experience handling all types of auto accident claims and getting full compensation for our clients.

Do I Need Markham, 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 claim. If the driver is taking responsibility for his actions and your injuries are minor and only require an appointment with your primary care physician, it probably will not be too difficult to get fair compensation. However, there are often many good reasons you will want a drunk driving accident lawyer on your side:

• 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 while not every drunk driver is found guilty, 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 hold the negligent driver accountable.
• The insurance company is not being fair. In a perfect world insurance companies would fulfill their responsibility when one of their policyholders injures you in a drunk driving accident, an insurance adjusters real job is to save the company money, not fairly compensate you. Even in the event that the driver is willing to be held accountable, the insurance company might try to convince you that your injuries are pre-existing or you waited too long to seek medical treatment. Those are all lies, and a knowledgeable drunk driving accident lawyer will fight back and let the insurance adjuster know we mean business.
• There are multiple parties at fault. While a drunk driver is obviously liable, other parties may be at fault, such as a restaurant that overserved the driver. Drunk driving accident lawyers will perform a detailed investigation and identify everyone whose negligence contributed to your injuries. This is especially beneficial when the policy limits are not sufficient to appropriately compensate you.
• Your injuries need extensive medical treatment. The more significant your injuries the more medical treatment you will need, which makes valuing your damages more complex, and motivates the insurance adjuster to try to minimize your damages as much as possible. Aggressive and compassionate drunk driving accident lawyers will not only fight hard to get you the compensation you need and are owed, but we can connect you to trusted physicians to make sure you get the medical treatment you need.

At Burger Law, our consultations and initial investigations are 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.

Missouri Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

Drunk driving statistics can be quite sobering. Every day there are about 28 fatal drunk driving accidents, adding up to roughly one death in just under an hour. While drunk driving accidents and deaths have steadily become less common in the last four decades, drunk drivers still account for three-tenths of total traffic fatalities as of 2018. While awareness campaigns and stiff punishments for drunk driving have certainly done a lot to make our roads safer, some selfish Markham, IL residents still make the terrible decision to disregard others’ well-being because of a misplaced self-centeredness. If you are harmed as a result, you are owed a full financial recovery and the reckless driver needs to be held accountable for what they did. The Markham, 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 one-fifth of the 1,088 accidents that caused fatalities in the state involved a drunk driver. Of 448 deceased drivers who were tested for alcohol, over a third tested positive.

How Alcohol Affects Driving | Markham, 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 reduce someone’s driving skills. At .02 percent blood alcohol concentration you experience a decline in sight, inability to multi-task, exaggerated confidence and poor judgment. At .05 percent – the product of approximately three drinks – a driver experiences decreased coordination, reduced ability to follow moving objects, challenges maneuvering and not being able to respond in enough time to emergency situations. It is crucial to exercise great caution and find other means of getting home if you have been drinking. Regrettably, sometimes you can follow all the rules ourselves and still be left to pick up the pieces after the horrible and unfair consequences of a reckless Markham, IL driver making a selfish decision, driving drunk and hurting 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 cannot truly compensate you and your family for all of the ways they have impacted your life. Trust in the knowledgeable and talented Markham, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Burger law to to see things made right. Call Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT to find out the best way to proceed and begin on the path to being made whole again.

Drunk Driving Laws in Markham and Illinois

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

• It is a third or subsequent violation
• 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

Other instances in which it is a more serious crime are:

• Class 2 Felony for a third and fourth offense
• Class 1 Felony for a fifth DUI
• Class X Felony for sixth and subsequent offenses

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

Typically, when you are proving negligence in a personal injury claim, you and your drunk driving accident lawyers must prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of Care — That the driver had a responsibility to keep you safe.
2. Breach of Duty — That the driver did not do what they should have in order to avoid hurting you.
3. Cause in Fact — That your injuries are a direct result of the accident.
4. Proximate Cause — That the defendant’s failure to use reasonable care caused the accident that caused your injuries.
5. Damages — That the negligence was the reason you sustained a 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 economic damages.

There are two factors that set drunk driving accidents apart from the majority of personal injury claims. Firstly, 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 specifically states that people who get behind the wheel of a vehicle are legally compelled to “exercise due care to avoid colliding” with other cars, pedestrians and bicyclists. Meaning a driver automatically owed you a duty of care. Secondly, the legal doctrine of negligence per se stipulates that anyone who breaks the law is negligent as a matter of law. 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 demonstrate is that the driver caused the accident and that that is how you sustained your injuries.

None of that means you should take the success of your case for granted; 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 key to have tenacious and experienced Markham, IL drunk driving accident lawyers to stand up to bullies and fight until you get the financial recovery you deserve.

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

The driver is clearly to blame for their horrible decision making, but drunk driving accident lawyers well-versed in Illinois law will be able to conduct a full investigation and determine if anyone else is at fault:

A Licensed Alcohol Vendor or Social Host

Dram shop rules allow you to sue a bar or restaurant 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 more liberal than many other states’ in that the drunk driver did not have to be visibly drunk when they were sold alcohol in order for the vendor to be liable. You just have to demonstrate:

• That the establishment sold the driver alcohol, which you can show through recordings, receipts or eyewitness testimony
• That the customer they served caused your injuries
• That the the patron became inebriated because of the alcohol that was sold to him

You can only sue a social host — meaning someone who supplies their private guests with alcohol — if the person who caused your accident was not old enough to drink legally and became drunk at the party.

Each year the Illinois Comptroller places dram shop liability limits on the maximum amount of money someone 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 a family member’s wrongful death.

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 percentage of your damages. According to the doctrine of negligent entrustment, someone may owe you damages if they permit someone else to use something which is under the control of the actor if if permitting the activity creates an inherent risk. In a drunk driving accident case in Markham, 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 in no condition to operate a vehicle.

The Driver’s Employer

If you were injured by a commercial driver, for example 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:

• Failure to perform an adequate background check
• Ignoring previous drunk driving related charges in the background check
• Ignoring previous reports of drunk driving
• Not abiding by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug testing requirements

Experienced Markham, IL drunk driving accident lawyers like those at Burger Law have experience with all of these types of negligence claims and know how to hold the appropriate parties liable. When you hire us, we start investigating your case immediately to find everyone who is responsible for your injuries.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Markham, IL Drunk Driving Accident Injuries?

Civil claims in the United States are based on the principle of making one whole. The concept is that when a person or organization is at-fault for your damages, you should be paid a dollar amount commensurate to the extent of your damages. In many car accident claims, for example a rear-end accident, being made whole means recovering compensation for lost wages, follow-up doctors’ appointments and the pain and inconvenience involved 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 make you whole, but the amount should be great enough to provide a least some sense of peace.

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

1. Economic damages — This the totaling of all the bills and lost income related to your accident. It is an unbiased dollar amount. Examples include:
   • Medical expenses — That includes any emergency room visits, operations, prescription or over-the-counter meds, chiropractic appointments and in-home care. You will also receive compensation for any treatment, joint replacements or replacement assistive devices you may need in the future.
   • Lost wages and lost earning capacity — Lost wages refer to the pay you lost from not being on the job as you were healing. If your injury caused a disability 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 chiropractic appointments, or had to hire a nanny to be able to take care of your kids, you need to be repaid for that too.

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

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 mental hardships you have been put through, which can include anything from difficulty turning your head to having PTSD anymore.
   • Disability for any permanent physical or cognitive challenges the selfish driver caused.
   • Disfigurement if your injuries result in lasting scarring.
   • Loss of consortium if you or a loved one’s injuries prevent you and your significant other from the love and intimate relationships you are used to.
   • Loss of society if the injuries prevent you from giving or your loved ones from receiving the same guidance and camaraderie that was once offered.
3. Punitive damages — These are not common in personal injury recoveries, and are meant to punish the drunk driver and deter future misbehavior. When we make a claim against drunk drivers, we always seek punitive damages. Not only does that maximize your financial recovery, but it also makes the insurance company nervous as there is no coverage for punitive damages Pursuant 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 dangerous conduct. It is clear to us that anyone who drives intoxicated is demonstrating a flagrant lack of respect for your safety.

In addition, our Markham, 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

Markham, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Burger Law

We hate bullies, including irresponsible drivers think they can do whatever they want and resistant insurance companies who care more about think it is acceptable to withhold the compensation you deserve. For that reason, each of our Markham-based drunk driving accident lawyers in Illinois has pledged their careers to fighting on behalf of the injured and vulnerable. We are not on TV commercials or billboards. When we are not investigating and litigating cases, our drunk driving accident lawyers are consistently honing our abilities to get great recoveries for our clients in Markham 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 the highest standard of legal advocacy, call the Markham, 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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