Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers High Hill, MO

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Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in High Hill, MO. We all owe it to other people to observe the rules of the road and respect each other’s safety. When someone gets behind the wheel when they’re drunk, they’re making an incredibly self-centered and reckless choice. If you or a family member was harmed because of that decision, you are entitled to pursue justice in the form of a financial recovery. Car crashes and the injuries that come with them are always unexpected, and the financial repercussions from medical costs and lost wages are instantaneous and harsh. Halvorsen Klote Davis’s High Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers have dedicated their lives to offering the injured and vulnerable in Missouri and Southern Illinois the same high standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. If you were injured because someone made the terrible decision to drink and drive, call HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.

Drunk Driving Statistics | High Hill, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

While drunk driving deaths have decreased 45 percent since 1982, there are still far too many people on the High Hill, MO roads who put others in danger by getting behind the wheel drunk. When they do and harm you, the High Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will fight for you to make sure they are held accountable and you receive the great compensation you need to be made whole again.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people die every day in drunk driving collisions, which amounts to one fatality every 52 minutes, and more than 10,000 people annually. According to data 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 within the last month. The yearly cost associated with drunk driving crashes nationwide adds up to over $44 billion.

The Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium reports that in 2021 alcohol and drug impaired driving was a factor in 4,027 auto collision injuries and 287 fatalities, 8 percent and 28 percent of the state’s total motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths, respectively.

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

If you’ve been injured because another person drove drunk in High Hill, MO, call HK Law’s drunk driving accident lawyers today at (314) 451-1314.

What Are the Drunk Driving Laws and Penalties in My State? | High Hill, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

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

With a BAC of more than .08
While impaired by alcohol
While under the influence of alcohol, intoxicating compounds, drugs, or a combination thereof to an extent that renders the person incapable of driving safely

The two states differ somewhat in terms of penalties:

Missouri

First offense: Up to 6 months in jail, fines up to $1,000, a license revocation of 30 days and the chance of having the ignition interlock device placed in your car.
Second offense: Up to 1 year in jail, fine not exceeding $2,000, a license revocation of 1 year and the ignition interlock device placed on your vehicle for a minimum of 6 months.
Third offense: Up to 4 years in jail, fine no greater than $10,000, a license revocation for a decade and the an ignition-blocking breathalyzer placed on your vehicle for a minimum of 6 months.

Illinois

First offense: Up to 1 year in jail, fines no greater than $2,500 and a license revocation of 1 year.
Second offense: A range of 5 to 364 days in prison, fines no greater than $2,500 and a license revocation of 5 years.
Third offense: A range of 10 days to 7 years in prison, fines no greater than $25,000 and a license revocation of 10 years.

Though it’s a good thing that there are strict penalties for drunk drivers, criminal penalties don’t help you receive compensation for your damages. Once in a while, drunk drivers can get out of a criminal conviction or plead guilty to a lesser charge. The High Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will still be able to hold them liable in your civil case and get you complete compensation for your damages.

Below are some useful links and FAQs from your HK Law Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers in High Hill, MO:

Who is at Fault for My Injuries? | High Hill, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

While a drunk driver is demonstrably responsible for your damages according to the negligence per se doctrine, there may be other parties who are responsible. Missouri and Illinois both have what we call dram shop laws, through which your drunk driving accident lawyers can help you hold a restaurant, or other licensed alcohol vendor accountable. Again, the statutes vary between the two states:

Missouri

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

If the customer was “visibly intoxicated,” which means they displayed:
- Considerably uncoordinated physical behavior
- Significant physical dysfunction
If the restaurant or their employee 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 blood alcohol content of more than .08% alone is not prima facie, or legally adequate to demonstrate fault. You and your drunk driving accident lawyers will have to show the bar or restaurant and their employees saw physical impairment, such as:

Stumbling
Slurred speech
Dropping their drink
Knocking objects over
Extremely impaired motor movements

Illinois

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

A vendor-patron relationship was established, meaning you can demonstrate that the vendor sold the drunk driver alcohol.
You can prove that the alcohol sold by the vendor was a factor the drunk driver’s intoxication.
You can demonstrate that the driver’s intoxication was the proximate cause of your injuries.

Each year, the Illinois Office of Comptroller must to set liability maximums for Dram Shop cases. As of January 20, 2022 those limits are:

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

Injured in High Hill, MO? Call Us.

What Compensation Can I Collect? | High Hill, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

The financial recovery you receive will count on the severity of your injuries and the talent of your drunk driving accident lawyers. When you hire Halvorsen Klote Davis, we’ll fight to win you great compensation for:

Economic damages, for example:

Lost wages for time you could not work as a result of your injuries
Lost earning potential if your injuries lead to an impairment that disallows you from carrying out the tasks of your job anymore
Medical costs, for instance
- Emergency room bills
- Follow up doctors visits
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Prescriptions
- In-home medical care
- Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or needed upgrades to your home
- Future estimated medical expenses, such as further physical therapy or medication, or replacement costs for assistive devices or joint replacements
- Transportation costs to and from medical appointments
- Property damage, for instance damage to your car

Noneconomic damages, such as:

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

The High Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis have the experience, persistence, and legal knowledge needed to deliver you the best possible compensation that you are entitled to.

Other personal injury cases we take in High Hill, MO are:

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High Hill, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote Davis

You should not have to pay because somebody else made a careless decision, and you do not have to go through this difficult process by yourself. The High Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis are understanding, talented, and accomplished in holding drunk drivers responsible in High Hill, MO for their selfish actions. We keep you informed throughout the whole legal process, and give you every piece of information you need to make the best decision for you and your family. Call the High Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.