Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Glen Carbon, IL

Call (314) 451-1314 for a Free Consultation and Case Evaluation.

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Glen Carbon, IL. We all owe it to other people to respect the rules of the road and keep each other safe. When someone gets behind the wheel when they’re drunk, they’re making a ridiculously selfish and irresponsible choice. If you or a loved one was hurt because of that decision, you deserve to seek justice in the form of a financial recovery. Motor vehicle accidents and their injuries are always unanticipated, and the financial effects from medical expenses and lost wages are instantaneous and harsh. Halvorsen Klote Davis’s Glen Carbon, IL drunk driving accident lawyers have pledged their careers to giving the injured and vulnerable in Missouri and Southern Illinois the same high standard of legal advocacy that large corporations have. If you were injured because someone made the awful decision to drive drunk, call HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.

Drunk Driving Statistics | Glen Carbon, ILDrunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Though drunk driving deaths have declined 45 percent since 1982, there are still far too many people on the Glen Carbon, IL roads who endanger others by getting behind the wheel drunk. When they do and injure you, the Glen Carbon, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will fight for you to make sure they are held responsible and you receive the best possible financial recovery you need to be made whole again.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people are killed each day in drunk driving wrecks, which adds up to one fatality every 52 minutes, and more than 10,000 people a year. According to reporting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in both Illinois and Missouri, 2.2 percent of drivers admitted to driving after having too much to drink in the previous month. The yearly cost of drunk driving collisions in the United States adds up to over $44 billion.

The Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium reports that in 2021 alcohol and drug impaired driving contributed to 4,027 car collision injuries and 287 fatalities, 8 percent and 28 percent of the state’s total traffic-related injuries and fatalities, respectively.

The Illinois 2020 Crash Facts states that almost 20 percent of the 1,088 fatal accidents in the state involved alcohol. Of 448 deceased drivers who were tested for alcohol, 37.1 percent tested positive.

If you’ve been injured because someone else drove drunk in Glen Carbon, IL, call HK Law’s drunk driving accident lawyers today at (314) 451-1314.

What Are the Drunk Driving Laws and Penalties in My State? | Glen Carbon, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

In both Missouri and Illinois, it is unlawful for somebody to drive or be in ”actual physical control” of a motor vehicle:

With a blood alcohol concentration of over .08
While impaired by alcohol
While under the influence of alcohol, intoxicating compounds, drugs, or a combination thereof to the point that a person is rendered incapable of driving safely

The two states differ a little in terms of consequences:

Missouri

First offense: Up to half a year in jail, fines up to $1,000, a license revocation of 30 days and potentially having an ignition-blocking breathalyzer placed on your vehicle.
Second offense: Up to 1 year in jail, fine of up to $2,000, a license revocation of 1 year and the ignition interlock device placed in your car for at least 6 months.
Third offense: Up to 4 years in jail, fine up to $10,000, a license revocation for a decade and the an ignition-blocking breathalyzer placed in your car for a minimum of 6 months.

Illinois

First offense: Up to 1 year in jail, fines not exceeding $2,500 and a license revocation of 1 year.
Second offense: A range of 5 to 364 days in prison, fines up to $2,500 and a license revocation of 5 years.
Third offense: A range of 10 days to 7 years in prison, fines not exceeding $25,000 and a license revocation for a decade.

Although it may be encouraging that there are harsh punishments for people who drive drunk, criminal penalties don’t help you collect compensation for your damages. Sometimes, drunk drivers can avoid a criminal conviction or plead guilty to a less serious charge. The Glen Carbon, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will still be able to hold them to blame in your civil case and get you the best possible financial recovery for your injuries.

The following are some useful links and FAQs from your HK Law Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers in Glen Carbon, IL:

Who is at Fault for My Injuries? | Glen Carbon, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

While a drunk driver is demonstrably liable for your injuries pursuant to the negligence per se doctrine, there could be other parties who are to blame. Missouri and Illinois both have what are called dram shop laws, whereby your drunk driving accident lawyers can assist you in holding a bar, or other licensed alcohol vendor responsible. Again, the laws are somewhat different in each state:

Missouri

Following Missouri Revised Statute §537.053, your drunk driving accident lawyers must demonstrate two things in order to win a dram shop case:

If the drunk driver was “visibly intoxicated,” meaning they exhibited:
- Considerably uncoordinated physical behavior
- Substantial physical dysfunction
If the bar or bartender or server was aware of the fact that or “should have known” that the patron was under the age of 21

Revised Statute §537.053 also stipulates that a BAC of over .08% alone is not prima facie, or legally adequate to support fault. You and your drunk driving accident lawyers will have to demonstrate the bar or restaurant and their employees saw physical impairment, such as:

Falling over
Slurred speech
Tipping over their drink
Knocking objects over
Substantially impaired motor movements

Illinois

Illinois’s Dram Shop Law is uncommon in that the person who injured you did not need to be “visibly intoxicated” for a restaurant to be accountable. 235 ILCS 5/6-21, the Illinois Liquor Control Act, allows an injured person to file a claim against a licensed liquor vendor if:

A vendor-patron relationship was established, meaning you can show that the bought alcohol at that specific bar.
You can prove that the alcohol sold by the bar contributed to the drunk driver’s inebriation.
You can demonstrate that the driver’s inebriation was the proximate cause of your damages.

Each year, the Illinois Office of Comptroller is obligated to set liability caps for Dram Shop cases. As of January 20, 2022 those caps are:

$77,787.30 for each person incurring damages
$95,073.37 per person when an injury or death resulted in either loss of support or loss of society.

Injured in Glen Carbon, IL? Call Us.

What Compensation Can I Collect? | Glen Carbon, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

The compensation you collect will count on the severity of your injuries and the knowledge of your drunk driving accident lawyers. When you hire Halvorsen Klote Davis, we’ll fight to win you full compensation for:

Economic damages, for instance:

Lost wages for time spent off work recovering
Lost earning capacity if your injuries cause a disability that prohibits you from performing the tasks of your job anymore
Medical costs, such as
- Emergency room bills
- Subsequent doctors appointments
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- In-home medical care
- Assistive devices such as crutches or necessary upgrades to your vehicle
- Future approximated medical expenses, such as further physical therapy or medication, or replacement costs for assistive devices or joint replacements
- Transportation costs to and from medical care
- Property damage, for example damage to your vehicle

Noneconomic damages, for instance:

Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Inconvenience
Physical impairment
Disfigurement
Loss of capacity to enjoy life
Loss of consortium

The Glen Carbon, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis have the experience, perseverance, and legal knowledge necessary to deliver you the full compensation that you deserve.

Other cases we take in Glen Carbon, IL are:

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Glen Carbon, IL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote Davis

You should not have to pay because another person made a reckless decision, and you do not need to go through this confusing process alone. The Glen Carbon, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis are understanding, talented, and accomplished in holding drunk drivers liable in Glen Carbon, IL for their irresponsible behavior. We keep you informed throughout the duration of your case, and give you every piece of information you require to make the best decision for you and your family. Call the Glen Carbon, IL drunk driving accident lawyers of HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.