Articles Posted in DUI

Former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace was recently sentenced to serve four months in jail in connection with an August driving under the influence (DUI) arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona. The arrest was purportedly his second DUI offense in 15 months. Although Grace was initially charged with four counts of aggravated DUI, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and felony endangerment. His sentence will reportedly include work-release, use of an ignition interlock device, and three years of supervised probation. The 48-year-old allegedly faced a maximum penalty of 45 months in prison for each count of aggravated DUI.

According to Scottsdale police, blood tests showed Grace had a blood alcohol level of .095. Like Illinois, the legal limit in the State of Arizona is .08. Following his arrest, Grace was reportedly terminated from his position as an Arizona Diamondbacks television broadcaster.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office estimates that 50,000 motorists are taken into custody for DUI in Illinois every year. About 80 percent of those arrested are reportedly first-time DUI offenders. Since 2009, Illinois drivers who are convicted of DUI have the option to have an ignition interlock installed in their car or other vehicle for the period of time during which their operator’s license would normally be suspended. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reportedly supports such laws. NTSB officials recently said ignition interlock devices should be installed in the personal automobile of all persons accused of driving while intoxicated. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman stated she believes such laws may potentially decrease or eliminate what is currently the number one preventable cause of traffic deaths across the nation.

Unfortunately, other motorists, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are placed at risk whenever an impaired driver chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. The injuries that result from a wreck that was caused by an intoxicated driver may be life-threatening or fatal. If you or someone close to you suffered harm in a DUI crash, you are advised to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able.
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A 20-year-old Palatine woman who stood accused of injuring four people after she passed out while huffing behind the wheel of a vehicle recently pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of intoxicating chemicals (DUI) in Cook County Circuit Court. According to Assistant State Attorney Mike Gerber, blood tests performed on the motorist following the nighttime crash showed that the 20-year-old had heroin, cocaine, and codeine in her system as well.

According to Gerber, the April 2012 accident occurred after the 20-year-old passed out, crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck another vehicle on Northwest Highway near First Bank Drive in Palatine. The force of the impact reportedly caused the young woman’s car to flip and land on top of a vehicle carrying two people. The crash allegedly critically injured an 84-year-old woman. The elderly woman’s adult son and two passengers who were riding in the 20-year-old motorist’s car were also purportedly hurt in the traffic wreck. The 84-year-old now reportedly requires 24 hour care.

Following the crash, the 20-year-old driver was transported to Northwest Memorial Hospital where she allegedly admitted to huffing immediately prior to passing out. She has purportedly been incarcerated in the Cook County Jail where she enrolled in a drug treatment program since she was charged. After the young woman reportedly apologized for injuring several people, Judge Ellen Beth Mandeltort sentenced her to five years in prison. She could have received a 12 year sentence in connection with the Class Four Felony.

Increasingly, law enforcement officers throughout the Chicago Metro are arresting drivers who are suspected of driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs. According to data collected by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, nearly one-fifth of motorists killed in car accidents throughout the United States in 2009 had drugs in their system. In Illinois, that number was reportedly even higher. As with other forms of DUI, drivers who choose to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs can experience blurred vision, slower than normal reaction times, an inability to focus, and overall poor judgment. Sadly, everyone traveling on the roadways in Illinois and elsewhere is placed at risk when an impaired motorist gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

The victims of a traffic wreck that was caused by an impaired driver may experience catastrophic injuries or death. Despite that a drugged motorist may be held criminally liable, he or she should also be held financially responsible for any damages that resulted from a collision. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident with a drugged driver, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, and a variety of other damages. If you lost a close relative in a wreck caused by an impaired driver, you may also be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A skilled Chicago car accident lawyer can help.
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A 23-year-old Skokie woman who stands accused of felony aggravated driving under the influence of drugs has reportedly refused a plea agreement that would have required her to serve five years in prison in connection with the accidental death of a nine-year-old child. According to Cook County prosecutors, the woman caused a chain reaction collision last May that claimed the life of a young boy. If convicted at trial, the woman reportedly faces between three and 14 years behind bars.

Accident investigators allege that the 23-year-old woman was turning her automobile onto Main Street from St. Louis Avenue in Skokie when she hit an eastbound vehicle. As a result of the initial crash, the woman’s vehicle reportedly began to spin and crossed the median. Her vehicle allegedly came to rest on a sidewalk where a nine-year-old boy was riding his bicycle. The force of the impact purportedly pushed the child across St. Louis Avenue and into a parked vehicle. Tragically, the second grader was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Cook County prosecutors allege that blood and urine samples taken from the 23-year-old showed she had both amphetamines and marijuana in her system at the time of the fatal collision. In addition, the woman was purportedly out on bond at the time of the accident. Earlier in 2012, she was charged with leaving the scene of another wreck. She is currently behind bars in lieu of a bond.

Increasingly, the Chicago Police Department has focused on arresting drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs such as marijuana. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration data claims that 18 percent of drivers killed in auto accidents in 2009 had drugs in their system. In the State of Illinois, that number was reportedly 23 percent. Like other forms of DUI, drivers who operate a motor vehicle after taking illegal drugs may have slow reaction times, an inability to focus, blurred vision, and poor judgment. Regrettably, everyone traveling on Illinois roadways is placed at risk whenever a drugged driver makes the choice to get behind the wheel of a car.

As this horrific crash demonstrates, the victims of an accident with a drugged driver may experience life-threatening injuries or death. While an impaired driver may be held criminally responsible, he or she should also be held liable for any emotional and financial damages that resulted from a traffic wreck. If you were injured in a collision that was caused by a drugged driver, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, and other damages. Additionally, anyone who lost a child or other family member in an accident with an impaired motorist may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. A quality Chicago car accident attorney can assist you.
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Police in Oak Park, Wilmette, and other towns throughout Illinois have reportedly begun cracking down on both impaired drivers and individuals who fail to wear a seat belt as part of a statewide holiday season safety campaign. The 2012 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket programs were established in an effort reduce the allegedly disproportionate number of traffic fatalities caused by impaired driving and motorists who choose not to wear a safety belt. The programs were paid for by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The two safety campaigns are administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation and slated to last until the New Year. As part of the programs, police officers will reportedly focus on motorists traveling on Illinois roadways between 9 pm and 6 am. Statistically, individuals are allegedly less likely to use a seat belt and more likely to operate an automobile while high or inebriated after 9 pm. In Illinois, 12 am to 3 am is reportedly the deadliest time to be traveling in a vehicle.

State and local police urge motorists to designate a driver, use public transportation, or call a cab in lieu of driving while intoxicated. Sober drivers are also encouraged to report suspected drunken drivers to local law enforcement. In addition, both drivers and passengers are reminded to use a safety belt whenever they ride in a motor vehicle.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of five and 34. The use of safety belts reportedly reduces a motorist or passenger’s risk of death or serious injury by approximately 50 percent. In Illinois, everyone traveling in a passenger vehicle is required to wear a safety belt.

Sadly, about 12,000 people were killed in alcohol-related automobile crashes across the nation in 2008. Nearly 48,000 drivers were also arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the same year. In Illinois, 36 percent of traffic fatalities in 2008 reportedly involved alcohol.

Someone who was hurt in a collision with an impaired driver may suffer tragic injuries or untimely death. If you or a family member was injured by a drunken or drugged motorist, you may be entitled to recover monetary damages for your medical expenses, suffering and pain, lost wages and benefits, any resulting disability, and more. A qualified car accident attorney can explain your right to recovery in more detail.
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A National Football League player was recently charged with intoxication manslaughter following a car accident that killed a teammate on a highway service road in a Dallas, Texas suburb. According to a spokesperson for the Irving Police Department, John Argumaniz, a 25-year-old Dallas Cowboys linebacker was killed when a defensive lineman flipped his Mercedes a few hours before the football team was scheduled to fly to Cincinnati for a game. Argumaniz said emergency responders called to the scene of the fatal collision found the linebacker unresponsive and the vehicle in flames. The linebacker was reportedly transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Argumaniz stated the driver was likely speeding well above the posted 45 miles per hour speed limit when the crash occurred. The driver allegedly refused a breathalyzer test, but was taken into custody after Irving police officers conducted a field sobriety test. A blood alcohol test performed on the defensive lineman after the collision purportedly registered at 0.18. The driver also allegedly admitted to ingesting alcohol at a club prior to the fatal wreck. If convicted, the football player faces up to 20 years in prison.

Both men previously played football together at the University of Illinois. Three years ago, the driver in the fatal crash allegedly pleaded guilty to drunken driving in Illinois. He reportedly served 60 days in jail and was sentenced to two years of probation in addition to being fined and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

In 2008, almost 12,000 people died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes throughout the country. That is approximately one unnecessary death every 45 minutes. In addition, about 48,000 motorists in the United States were charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in 2008. During the same year, 36 percent of auto accident fatalities in Illinois reportedly involved alcohol. Drivers who operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substances normally suffer from slow reaction times, blurred vision, an inability to focus, and poor judgment. Sadly, everyone on the roadway is placed at risk whenever an impaired driver makes the choice to get behind the wheel of a car.

The victim in an accident with a drunken driver often suffers tragic injuries or death. Even when an impaired driver is charged with a crime, he or she should also be held responsible for any financial damages that resulted from an accident. If you were injured by an impaired driver, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, any resulting temporary or permanent disability, and other damages. If you lost a close relative in a wreck that was caused by a drunken motorist, you may also be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. A skilled car accident lawyer can explain your rights.
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A former Detective with the Chicago Police Department was sentenced to serve eight years in prison for allegedly killing two young men in a fiery auto wreck while driving under the influence of alcohol. The 18-year police veteran reportedly struck the back of an automobile that was broken down on the Dan Ryan Expressway near Roosevelt Road while off-duty in April 2009. The two young men who died were trapped inside of their car as it burst into flames. Meanwhile, a passing motorist reportedly assisted the police officer out of his sport utility vehicle. Instead of notifying authorities or rendering aid, the detective allegedly walked away from the accident scene in the opposite direction from the engulfed vehicle. According to prosecutors, he was later apprehended on foot.

After he was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital, the police officer’s blood alcohol concentration allegedly tested .277, more than three times the legal limit of .08 in Illinois. He reportedly denied leaving the scene of the accident intentionally. Instead, the police officer claimed that he walked away disoriented from the impact of the fatal accident. Following the crash, the detective was stripped of his police powers. He resigned from the force in August 2012.

In September, the former officer pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence. He was also acquitted of failing to report the accident by Cook County Judge Charles Burns. Although Judge Burns stated he believed the former officer was remorseful about the accident, he reportedly took into account the man’s high blood alcohol concentration at the time of the collision when handing down his sentence.

Police in the Chicago Metro are always on the lookout for drunk or impaired drivers. In 2010, 436 individuals in Illinois died as a result of an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident. In addition, accidents that involved alcohol accounted for almost half of the 927 automobile accident deaths that occurred throughout the state. Despite the obvious dangers associated with drunken driving, nearly 42,000 driving under the influence arrests were made in 2010 in Illinois. An estimated 85 percent of all drivers who were arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol were first time offenders, and more than 75 percent were men.

Too often, the unfortunate victims of an accident with an impaired motorist suffer severe injuries or death. Although many drunk or impaired drivers are held criminally liable, they can also be held financially accountable for any damages suffered by those who were injured as a result of a drunk driving collision. If you were hurt in a crash with an impaired motorist, you may be entitled to recover the costs associated with your medical treatment, reimbursement for any lost wages, payment for any pain and suffering, and other damages. If you lost a close family member in a collision that was caused by a drunk driver, you may also be eligible to file a lawsuit for wrongful death. Contact a qualified Chicago car accident attorney to discuss your rights.
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A 22-year-old Hillside man has pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence (DUI) of marijuana in connection with a 2010 crash that killed a motorcyclist in DuPage County. On November 30, 2010, the driver was reportedly headed north on Addison road when he attempted to turn left onto Michael Lane. As he turned, he allegedly struck a southbound motorcyclist with his Toyota Camry. Following the accident, the 46-year-old victim, of Itasca, was transported to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital with traumatic head injuries. The victim, who was not wearing a safety helmet when he was struck, later died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision.

According to police, the driver admitted to smoking marijuana about 12 hours before the fatal collision. He also reportedly tested positive for the drug. The driver, who was initially charged with two counts of aggravated DUI, now faces a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Police in the Chicago Metro are increasingly arresting drivers who are suspected of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana or other drugs. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 18 percent of drivers killed in auto accidents in 2009 had drugs in their system. In Illinois, that number was an alarming 23 percent. Like other forms of DUI, motorists who operate a car or other vehicle under the influence of drugs may have slow reaction times, blurred vision, an inability to focus, and poor judgment. Unfortunately, everyone traveling on the roadway is placed at risk when an impaired driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel of a car.

As this tragic accident demonstrates, the victims of an accident with a drugged driver may experience catastrophic injuries or death. Although an impaired driver may be held criminally liable, he or she should also be held responsible for any damages that resulted from the crash. If you were hurt in an auto accident with a drugged driver, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, any resulting disability, and other damages. If you lost a loved one in an accident with an impaired driver, you may also be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. An experienced Chicago car accident lawyer can help.
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