Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
A one vehicle rollover crash on Sunday left eight people injured and in need of medical treatment. Authorities now believe that the driver of the vehicle, a 22-year-old woman, was impaired at the time of the crash.
The accident occurred on I-57 near 111th Street in Chicago at approximately 9:30 p.m. with witnesses reporting that a minivan traveling on the highway struck a guardrail and rolled over following the impact, coming to a rest on the highway and in the lanes designated for southbound traffic.
It is not clear how many people were inside the minivan at the time of the crash but eight people, including six children, were hurt in the accident. The children were ages seven, five, four, two, and eight-month-old twins but it is not known whether some or all of the children were related to the driver.
The driver of the minivan has been charged with driving under the influence as well as child endangerment for her role in the accident but she may face additional charges as police are still investigating the crash.
Illinois law is clear that anyone driving while under the influence of an intoxicating compound, including alcohol and/or drugs, is in violation of the law and may face criminal charges as a result. This crime increases in severity when an accident results and one or more persons is seriously injured or killed.
Despite the risks posed by driving drunk, it has been described as the most commonly committed violent crime in America with hundreds of thousands of Americas driving drunk every year. In Illinois, drunk driving often leads to fatal accidents where one out of three drivers killed between the ages of 25 and 34 was drunk in 2011.
Illinois police do their best to arrest drunk drivers before a collision occurs but driving drunk is so widespread in the state that this is a difficult task to undertake. Nationally, an average drunk driver has driven drunk more than 80 times before his or her first arrest and between 50 and 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license. This means that preventing drivers from operating a car drunk and not tolerating drunk driving behavior has to be a priority for all in society as these individuals threaten everyone on the road with their actions.
We understand that when one person becomes a victim of a drunk driving crash, the impact spreads to the victim’s entire family, extending the damages and the losses to many people. After an accident, a victim may incur substantial medical bills and be unable to work for a period of time, meaning that no money is coming in to pay the bills or provide for his or her family.
Under Illinois law, accident victims may be entitled to bring a monetary claim against a driver who causes an accident so that a victim can be adequately compensated for any damages, including medical bills and pain and suffering that is endured. A personal injury attorney can help you understand whether you have one or more valid claims for your damages as well as the scope of your legal options after a crash.
If you have been a victim of an accident, call a Chicago car accident lawyer at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a free, no obligation telephone consultation. We understand that you may need answers outside of normal business hours so we keep a licensed lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442. Call us today and let us help you get a financial recovery you deserve.
Prior Blog Entries:
Driver Charged in Fatal Glenview Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published October 3, 2013.
Impaired Teen Driver Flees Scene of Fatal Pedestrian Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published September 30, 2013.
Resources:
Woman Charged With DUI In I-57 Crash That Hurt 8, CBS Chicago/Sun-Times Media Wire, published October 7, 2013.