A suspected drunk driving crash on Western Avenue has taken the life of a 26-year-old woman. According to Chicago police, a 33-year-old man was driving a four-door Saturn south on the roadway around 2:15 am when the car struck a viaduct, flipped, and split in two. The single-vehicle accident reportedly ejected the man’s female passenger from the car. Although paramedics transported the woman to Mount Sinai Hospital, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office stated she was pronounced dead about three hours after the collision occurred.
The cause of the fatal wreck is currently under investigation by the Chicago Police Department’s Major Accidents Investigations Unit. Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said the driver of the Saturn was treated for minor cuts and bruises and released from a local hospital. Despite that charges have not been filed, Mirabelli stated police believe alcohol played a role in the deadly incident.
Since 2009, motorists who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in Illinois have the option to have an ignition interlock device installed in their automobile in lieu of a license suspension. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is reportedly in favor of ignition interlock device laws like those passed in Illinois. Recently, NTSB officials stated ignition interlock devices should be installed in the personal vehicle of anyone accused of DUI. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman reportedly believes that ignition interlock device laws could decrease or eliminate what is currently the number one preventable cause of traffic fatalities across the country.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, about 50,000 drivers are taken into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in our state annually. In addition, approximately 80 percent of motorists who are arrested are first-time DUI offenders. As demonstrated by this sad case, the victim of a motor vehicle crash that was caused by an impaired motorist may suffer catastrophic injuries or untimely death. Although a drunk or drugged driver may be held criminally liable, he or she should also be held financially responsible for any harm that resulted from a DUI wreck.
If you were hurt in a car accident that was caused by an impaired driver, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, suffering and pain, any resulting disability, and a variety of other damages. If you lost a family member in a traffic collision with a drunk or drugged motorist, you may also be entitled to file a lawsuit to recover for your loved one’s wrongful death. A skilled Chicago car accident attorney can discuss your rights with you in more detail.
If you were injured or a close relative was killed in a DUI or other traffic wreck in Chicago, you should contact the capable lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. Our experienced Chicago drunk driving accident attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days of the week to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Our committed lawyers have years of experience advocating on behalf of clients who were injured by impaired motorists throughout Chicago. To speak with a dedicated car accident attorney, please give the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 475-9596.
More Blogs:
Senior Citizen Dies Following Negligent Pedestrian Accident in Palatine, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, February 24, 2013
One Man Killed, Two Others Critically Hurt When Elderly Driver Loses Control of SUV on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, February 20, 2013
Additional Resources:
Authorities: Woman killed in West Side crash identified, by Peter Nickeas, Chicago Tribune
Police: Alcohol A Factor In Fatal West Side Crash, Chicago.cbslocal.com