Illinois auto accident lawyers at our office often deal with cases involving drunk drivers. The outcomes of these collisions are often deadly.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that one such accident happened in Chicago last weekend. The incident occurred around 2 AM Sunday morning near the intersection of Sawyer and Archer. An alleged intoxicated motorist was traveling in a Chevy Malibu northwest on Archer Ave. when she failed to yield while making a left turn at Sawyer Avenue. She struck a 2011 Nissan Maxima that was headed in a Southwest direction on Archer. The Nissan was traveling straight and had the right-of-way.
The 28-year-old driver of the Maxima was pronounced dead in less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital. The victim was a resident of Chicago Ridge in the 9700 block of S. Harlem Ave.
Chicago police officers arrived at the scene to find the defendant had an order of alcohol on her breath and bloodshot eyes. She admitted drinking alcohol before the accident. She said she never saw the other vehicle before the crash. The DUI driver injured her hands and legs in the accident and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. There a blood-alcohol test showed her BAC level to be .094. She was placed under arrest at the hospital.
Police initially charged her with DUI, failure to yield, driving without a license and no insurance. Since then the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office have upgraded the charges to aggravated DUI.
The defendant, a South Side resident, is at the Cook County Jail with a $10,000 bond from the original charges. It is likely her bail will increase with the new felony charges.
Passengers from the Nissan were taken to Stroger Hospital and passengers from the Chevy were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital.
This accident serves as a strong reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, accident fatalities have significantly increased this year. There has been 201 accident fatalities so far this year, up from 178 on this date last year. Of those fatalities this year, 59 were alcohol-related.
In the year 2010, of the 607 people killed in Illinois accidents, around 30% of them were over the legal drinking limit, and 12% had a BAC of over .20.
Another issue in this case is that the defendant was uninsured. Here, once injury lawyers get involved in the case they’re going to look to make uninsured motorist claims against each victims own auto insurance policy. Drivers operating vehicles without insurance has become an epidemic in the Chicago area. It is more important than ever to have a good auto policy with a reputable insurance company. You cannot rely on other drivers to have insurance, because in reality they often don’t have it.
If you have been hurt by a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, contact the Chicago DUI accident attorneys at Abels & Annes to discuss your options. Remember, our consultations are free and there is no fee unless you win your case. Call 312-475-9596.
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