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If another driver’s intoxication changed your life, the aftermath can feel personal and procedurally confusing. Medical care, missed work, insurance calls, and questions about a criminal case can arrive together. A civil injury claim is separate from any prosecution, but facts gathered in one process can matter in the other. An experienced car wreck attorney could help you understand that overlap, preserve evidence, and communicate with insurers without giving up leverage.
Schlack & Bassmaji assists people hurt in drunk driving car accidents in Chicago by examining liability, damages, insurance coverage, and the steps needed to move a claim forward. Legal help can be valuable when the crash involves serious injuries, disputed fault, or an insurer minimizes recovery costs. To learn more about how we can help you pursue compensation to support your family, schedule a consultation today.
Illinois law treats impaired driving as more than poor judgment. Under the Illinois Vehicle Code § 11-501, a person cannot drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicating compounds, or certain combinations of substances. In a civil case, that statute can help frame why a driver’s conduct fell below the standard expected on the road.
For people injured in Chicago drunk driving car accident claims, liability analysis often looks beyond the arrest. Our attorneys can evaluate:
A DUI charge can be important, but you still need proof connecting the impaired conduct to your crash and losses. This proof can affect several categories of damages, including:
Each category benefits from documentation. Medical records, photographs, pay records, and written notes about symptoms can help show how the crash affected a person’s life over time.
Even in a crash involving alcohol, insurers can look for ways to reduce payment. They may question whether you were speeding, distracted, not wearing a seat belt, or otherwise partly responsible. Illinois uses a modified comparative fault rule under the Code of Civil Procedure § 2-1116. Under that rule, an injured person generally cannot recover damages if they are more than 50 percent at fault, and any recovery can be reduced by their percentage of fault.
This is why drunk driving crash injury cases in Chicago require careful factual development. Our lawyers can work to separate speculation from evidence and identify each party whose conduct contributed to the collision. In some cases, the impaired driver is not the only possible source of recovery. Vehicle ownership, employer responsibility, roadway conditions, or negligent entrustment can become part of the review, depending on the facts.
Timing also matters. The Code of Civil Procedure § 13-202 generally sets a two-year deadline for personal injury actions in Illinois. Waiting too long can make evidence harder to locate and can place a valid claim at risk.
After drunk driving car accidents in Chicago, you deserve an explanation of the civil process and a careful review of the facts. A claim is not only about proving that the other driver was impaired. It is also about showing how the collision affected your health, work, finances, and daily life.
Schlack & Bassmaji can assess the available evidence, explain how Illinois law applies, and help you make informed choices before speaking further with insurance representatives. Contact us today to discuss your situation, ask practical questions, and take the next step with guidance from a personal injury attorney.