Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Moberly, MO

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Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Moberly, MO. We all have a responsibility to each other to follow 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 self-centered and thoughtless decision. If you or someone you love was harmed due to that decision, you deserve to pursue justice in the form of financial compensation. Motor vehicle accidents and their injuries are always unexpected, and the financial repercussions from medical expenses and lost wages are immediate and severe. Halvorsen Klote Davis’s Moberly, MO drunk driving accident lawyers have committed 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 another person made the horrible decision to drink and drive, call HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.

Drunk Driving Statistics | Moberly, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Though drunk driving deaths have decreased by almost half since 1982, there are still much too many people on the Moberly, MO roads who put others in danger by drinking and driving. When they do and hurt you, the Moberly, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will fight for you to make certain they are held accountable and you get the full compensation you need to heal.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people die every day in drunk driving crashes, which adds up to one death every 52 minutes, and over 10,000 people a year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in both Illinois and Missouri, 2.2 percent of drivers acknowledged driving after having too much to drink in the previous 30 days. The yearly cost of drunk driving wrecks nationwide adds up to over $44 billion.

The Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium found that in 2021 alcohol and drug impaired driving was a factor in 4,027 motor vehicle accident injuries and 287 deaths, 8 percent and 28 percent of the state’s total traffic injuries and fatalities, 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 perished and were tested for alcohol, 37.1 percent tested positive.

If you’ve been harmed by a drunk driver in Moberly, 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? | Moberly, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

In both Missouri and Illinois, it is against the law for somebody to drive or be in ”actual physical control” of an automobile:

With a BAC of at least .08
While under the influence of alcohol
While impaired by alcoholand/or illegal substances to an extent that renders the person unable to drive safely

The two states differ a bit in terms of penalties:

Missouri

First offense: Up to 6 months in jail, fines not exceeding $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 not exceeding $2,000, a license revocation of 1 year and an ignition-blocking breathalyzer placed in your car for a minimum of 6 months.
Third offense: Up to 4 years in jail, fine up to $10,000, a license revocation for a decade and the the ignition interlock device placed in your car 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 not exceeding $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 for a decade.

Though it’s a good thing that there are harsh penalties for drunk drivers, criminal penalties don’t help you recover compensation for your damages. Sometimes, drunk drivers can evade a criminal conviction or plead guilty to a less serious charge. The Moberly, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will still be able to hold them responsible in your civil case and get you full compensation for your injuries.

The following are some helpful links and FAQs from your HK Law Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers in Moberly, MO:

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

While a drunk driver is demonstrably responsible for your damages pursuant to the negligence per se doctrine, there may be other parties who are responsible. Missouri and Illinois each have what are referred to dram shop laws, wherein your drunk driving accident lawyers can help you hold a restaurant, or other licensed alcohol vendor liable. Again, the laws differ between the two states:

Missouri

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

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

Revised Statute §537.053 also states that a blood alcohol content of more than .08% by itself is not prima facie, or lawfully adequate to demonstrate fault. You and your drunk driving accident lawyers must show the establishment and their employees saw physical impairment, such as:

Stumbling
Slurring when they talk
Tipping over their drink
Knocking objects over
Considerably impaired motor movements

Illinois

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

A vendor-patron relationship existed, meaning you can show that the bought alcohol at that specific bar.
You can show that the alcohol sold by the vendor was a factor the drunk driver’s drunkenness.
You can demonstrate that the driver’s inebriation was the proximate cause of your injuries.

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

$77,787.30 for each individual who suffered damages
$95,073.37 per person when an injury or death led to either loss of support or loss of society.

Injured in Moberly, MO? Call Us.

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

The financial recovery you receive will be based on the significance of your injuries and the talent of your drunk driving accident lawyers. When you hire Halvorsen Klote Davis, we’ll fight to secure you the best possible compensation for:

Economic damages, for example:

Lost wages for time you could not work as a result of your injuries
Lost earning capacity if your injuries cause an impairment that disallows you from carrying out the tasks of your job anymore
Medical costs, for example
- Emergency room visits
- Subsequent doctors visits
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Prescriptions
- In-home medical care
- Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or required upgrades to your home
- Future estimated medical bills, such as further physical therapy or prescriptions, 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 Moberly, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis have the experience, persistence, and legal skills needed to secure you the maximum compensation that you are entitled to.

Other cases we take in Moberly, MO are:

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Moberly, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote Davis

You should not have to pay because another driver made a selfish decision, and you do not have to navigate this difficult time by yourself. The Moberly, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis are empathetic, talented, and accomplished in holding drunk drivers responsible in Moberly, MO for their irresponsible behavior. We keep you informed throughout the duration of your case, and give you every piece of information you need to make the best decision for you and your family. Call the Moberly, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.