Chicago is no stranger to drunk driving accidents. For example, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that three people were injured and one died in such a crash around 63rd Street in June 2021. Drunk driving accidents, unfortunately happen all too often in Chicago, IL. It is important for drunk driving accident victims to know their rights and what legal actions they can take under Illinois law.
If you or a member of your family was injured in a car accident that was caused by an intoxicated driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our drunk driving accident lawyers in Chicago at The Kryder Law Group, LLC can help you recover the costs of your injuries and other related losses. We will handle your case with no upfront fees required. Call today for a free case evaluation and we can help you determine what kind of compensation you may be entitled to after you’ve been seriously injured by a drunk driver.
In this Article
How Our Lawyers Can Help You After You were Hurt in a Chicago Drunk Driving Accident
After you were hurt in a drunk driving accident, leave your legal case in our hands. Your primary focus should be your recovery and not stressing over the legal process of a personal injury claim. Getting hit by a drunk driver can be devastating and it’s important to have an experienced legal team on your side.
One of our experienced drunk driving accident lawyers will:
Put together an evidence file the comprises toxicology reports from the drunk driver, medical records, photos of the accident, witness testimonies, traffic camera footage, and the crash report
Name all possible liable parties
Relay messages between the other involved parties and you
Evaluate settlement offers and negotiate with the insurer until we are satisfied with a figure
Argue your case in front of a jury
We Will Always Keep You Informed
When you work with our law firm, you can expect frequent updates so that you are always in the know. It is important to us that you are aware of how your case is progressing and what the next steps always are. If you ever have questions or concerns, never hesitate to get in touch with your lawyer. We believe in an attorney client relationship based in trust.
Our Legal Services Will Be Available to You Based on Contingency
If you think, like most people do, that getting help from a lawyer is too expensive, then we have good news. When you choose The Kryder Law Group, LLC to represent you in your drunk driving case, we won’t take any retainers, out-of-pocket fees, or hourly fees from you. Your lawyer’s payment will come from the compensation they win for you when your case is over. In the event you lose your case, there is no payment due. This means that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling us today for a free consultation.
Identifying Who Is Liable for Injuries Stemming From Drunk Driving Accidents
If another driver struck you and they had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or anything higher than the legal limit, then they should be held liable for the accident, your injuries, and your losses in addition to deserving a drunk driving arrest for their DUI offense. However, the intoxicated driver with a blood alcohol content above the limit may not be the only party who owes you compensation.
Illinois follows the Liquor Control Act or the Dram Shop Law. If an establishment sells alcohol to a minor or someone who is visibly intoxicated, that business owner may be held responsible if the intoxicated person is the drunk driver that causes a car accident.
It may be difficult to prove which parties are to blame, but when we complete our investigation, we should be able to establish that the parties involved were negligent and:
They owed you a duty of care: The driver was to drive sober, or the establishment under the dram shop laws was to check IDs and stop serving alcohol once the customer was intoxicated to prevent them from driving under the influence.
They breached that duty: The driver drove drunk, or the establishment failed to check IDs and continued to serve the customer regardless of their physical state.
They caused an accident: This negligence led to the drunk driver hitting you or your loved one.
You have damages: You or your loved one faced financial and non-financial losses from the accident.
Keep in mind that drunk drivers will go through both civil and criminal court for drunk driving. So, a guilty verdict will not guarantee compensation for you.
Assigning a Monetary Value to Your Economic and Non-Economic Damages
If you or a loved one was injured in a drunk driving accident in Chicago, you may have incurred both economic and non-economic financial losses. 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.2 allows you to recover the following from the drunk driver:
Past and future medical expenses
Past and future loss of income
Compensation to repair your damaged car
Compensation to replace your totaled car
Physical pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Physical disability and disfigurement
If your loved one lost their life from the accident caused by a drunk driver, you can recover damages related to their wrongful death, including memorial and burial costs, end-of-life healthcare costs, and your own grief. Call us for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and the wrongful death damages you may be eligible to receive.
Accurately Determining Economic Expenses
Calculating the economic expenses of a car accident usually involves adding receipts and medical bills to reach a total. That makes it important not to accept a speedy settlement offer from an insurance company. Instead, you should wait for receipts and bills to arrive that demonstrate the full financial impact that the accident has burdened you with.
Future Medical Costs and Lost Wages
Your medical reports and doctors’ notes can also help calculate your future medical care and how your injuries will affect your ability to work. If you suffer serious injuries that will come with long-term or life long effects, then it is possible you will miss out on the ability to earn the same amount of income you normally would have. These lost wages are something you should receive financial compensation for, as well.
Our Attorneys Can Help You Assign Accurate Value
On your own, it can be difficult to assign an accurate value to your non-economic expenses. Our lawyers can help you define the value of pain and suffering and mental and emotional distress, for instance.
Time Limit for Pursuing a Lawsuit After a Drunk Driving Crash
According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver who caused your accident. The same deadline applies to filing a wrongful death lawsuit under 740 ILCS 180/2.
If you do not comply with this Illinois law, you risk not being able to file your lawsuit at all— and the at-fault drunk driver will not have to compensate you for the financial damage of the accident. The full financial impact of the accident would then fall on you.
Get Help From Experienced Lawyers
It would be incredibly unfair for you to have to pay for the negligence of drunk drivers. Do not let that happen. Partner with the personal injury attorneys from The Kryder Law Group, LLC and we’ll help you stay on top of important deadlines and fight for the maximum compensation you need and deserve. We handle cases throughout Illinois and the Chicagoland area including Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, and Kane County. Call today for a free consultation.
What It’s Like Partnering with Us After a Car Accident in Chicago
Our attorneys have won millions of dollars in financial recovery for our clients. We take a personalized approach with each case, and we plan to do the same for you. Every case is different so we will make sure that we get all the details of your particular case right so we can make sure that we represent you and your needs exactly the way you need us to.
“Andrew Kryder is an excellent lawyer who is not only well prepared and easy to work with but very effective in getting the results necessary for his clients. He always keeps the client informed and timely in all responses.” – Don P.
“Simply stated the Law Offices of Andrew Kryder handled it! They took care of everything and left me worry free! I was very surprised with [the] amount of settlement which I’ve received from my case. I would recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance!” -Mike R.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC Can Help You Recover From a Drunk Driving Car Accident
If you or a family member was injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in Chicago, you have the basis for a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit for financial recovery. Find out how a Chicago drunk driving accident lawyer can help you recoup the cost of your injuries and their related expenses.
We Do The Work So You Can Recover
We can help keep you on track with your drunk driving accident case. We will guide you through the process with legal advice and stay on top of important deadlines. This is especially important when you’re in the middle of recovering from your injuries.
We Will Fight For You
Our priority will be to keep the legal burden off of your shoulders and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. This can particularly critical if you suffer more serious injuries such as a traumatic brain injury which can leave you with long-term disabilities that result in extensive medical costs and lost income. We’ve helped hundreds of clients to recover millions of dollars in compensation for their severe injures.
Call Us Today
Contact the personal injury team at The Kryder Law Group, LLC law offices today and start with a free case evaluation. During your free consultation to evaluate your case after you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, here are just a few examples of what you’ll get:
An evaluation of the strength or weakness of your case.
An idea of the compensation you may receive.
A conversation about the available insurance coverage from which insurance companies.
A discussion of the severity of your injuries and whether specialists are needed.
An idea of how long the case will take to complete.
A sense of relief that an experienced team who has represented clients just like you is ready to listen and to help through the entire litigation process. We will listen to you and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Shattered glass covers the seatbelt of a car that was wrecked in an accident with a drunk driver. If you've been seriously injured by someone driving under the influence, call our Chicago drunk driving accident lawyers today.
(312) 223-1700