Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Rock Hill, MO

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

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Rock Hill, MO. We all owe it to each other to obey the rules of the road and keep each other safe. When another person gets behind the wheel when they’re drunk, they’re making an extremely self-centered and irresponsible decision. If you or someone you love was harmed due to that decision, you have a right to seek justice in the form of a financial recovery. Motor vehicle wrecks and the subsequent injuries are always unexpected, and the financial effects from medical expenses and lost wages are instantaneous and severe. Halvorsen Klote Davis’s Rock Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers have committed their lives to offering the injured and vulnerable in Missouri and Southern Illinois the same high standard of legal representation that large insurance companies have. If you were injured because somebody made the terrible decision to drink and drive, call HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.

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

Although drunk driving fatalities have declined 45 percent since 1982, there are still way too many people on the Rock Hill, MO roads who put others at risk by drinking and driving. When they do and harm you, the Rock Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will fight on your behalf to make sure they are held responsible and you receive the maximum compensation you need to be made whole again.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people die every day in drunk driving crashes, which adds up to one person every 52 minutes, and over 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 confessed driving after drinking too much in the previous month. The annual cost associated with drunk driving collisions in the United States amounts to over $44 billion.

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

The Illinois 2020 Crash Facts found that 19.7 percent of the 1,088 fatal collisions in the state could be contributed to alcohol. Of 448 drivers who died and were tested for alcohol, 37.1 percent tested positive.

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

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

With a blood alcohol concentration of at least .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 a little 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 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 on your vehicle for a minimum of 6 months.
Third offense: Up to 4 years in jail, fine not exceeding $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 no greater than $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 up to $25,000 and a license revocation for a decade.

Though it’s a good thing that there are severe consequences for people who drive while intoxicated, criminal penalties don’t help you get compensation for your injuries. Occasionally, drunk drivers can avoid a criminal conviction or plead guilty to a less serious charge. The Rock Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis will still be able to hold them responsible in your civil case and get you the best possible financial recovery for your injuries.

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

Who is to Blame for My Injuries? | Rock Hill, MO Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

While a drunk driver is demonstrably at fault for your damages under the negligence per se doctrine, there might be other people who are at fault. Missouri and Illinois each 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 laws differ between the two states:

Missouri

Pursuant to 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 showed:
- Considerably uncoordinated physical behavior
- Substantial physical dysfunction
If the bar or their employee was aware or should have been aware of the fact that the patron was under the age of 21

Revised Statute §537.053 also stipulates that a BAC of more than .08% alone is not prima facie, or legally sufficient 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:

Staggering
Slurred speech
Spilling their drink
Knocking objects over
Considerably impaired motor movements

Illinois

Illinois’s Dram Shop Law is unusual in that the person who injured you did not have to be “visibly intoxicated” in order for a vendor to be responsible. 235 ILCS 5/6-21, the Illinois Liquor Control Act, allows someone hurt by a drunk driver to make a claim against a licensed liquor vendor if:

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

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

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

Injured in Rock Hill, MO? Call Us.

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

The financial recovery you collect will depend on the gravity of your injuries and the skill of your drunk driving accident lawyers. When you hire Halvorsen Klote Davis, we’ll fight to secure you complete compensation for:

Economic damages, including:

Lost wages for time you could not work due to your injuries
Lost earning capacity if your injuries cause an impairment that doesn’t allow you to carry out the tasks of your job anymore
Medical bills, for example
- Emergency room bills
- Subsequent doctors visits
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- In-home medical care
- Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or required upgrades to your home
- Future approximated medical expenses, such as further physical therapy or prescriptions, or replacement costs for assistive devices or joint replacements
- Transportation costs to and from medical treatment
- Property damage, for instance 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 Rock Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis have the experience, determination, and legal skills needed to get you the best possible financial recovery that you are owed.

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

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

You should not have to pay because another person made a selfish decision, and you do not have to navigate this trying time alone. The Rock Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of Halvorsen Klote Davis are empathetic, skilled, and accomplished in holding drunk drivers accountable in Rock Hill, MO for their reckless 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 Rock Hill, MO drunk driving accident lawyers of HK Law today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online.