Lake County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

You know that drunk driving is irresponsible, illegal, dangerous, and deadly. Most everyone understands this and knows that intoxicated drivers needlessly cut short thousands of lives and seriously injure thousands more each year. But this knowledge doesn’t stop far too many people from getting behind the wheel after one too many – or ten too many – drinks. When that happens, tragedy often follows. Those living with the pain, anguish, worry, and anger left behind in the aftermath of such heinous conduct can turn to Lake County drunk driving accident lawyer Kirk Moyer for the guidance, justice, and compensation that can help them heal and move forward.

Kirk is committed to holding those responsible for such tragedies accountable for their conduct. He represents drunk driving victims and their families throughout Chicagoland whose lives have been turned upside-down because a driver disregarded the safety of others on the road by driving when they shouldn’t. Kirk has recovered millions of dollars for his clients and stands by them at every step in the process, answering their questions, easing their concerns, and fighting for them until they get the compensation they deserve.

30 Americans Killed By Drunk Drivers Every Day

Drunk drivers kill almost 30 Americans every single day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That means that every 48 minutes in the United States, one parent, daughter, son, grandchild, or other loved one doesn’t come home to their family and friends because of an intoxicated motorist.

In 2017, there were 10,874 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving drivers with blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher (the legal limit in Illinois), the NHTSA reports. That constitutes 29% of all traffic fatalities for that year. Here in Illinois, drunk drivers took the lives of 291 people in 2018, according to the Illinois Secretary of State.

How Drunk Driving Accident Claims Work

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an extreme form of negligence. As such, those injured by such conduct can hold the other driver accountable just as they could if he or she had engaged in other reckless driving behaviors, such as tailgating, speeding, or distracted driving.

But a key difference with drunk driving accidents is that the negligent driver will likely also be facing felony DUI charges that come with severe penalties. The outcome of the driver’s criminal case and the evidence used in their prosecution can impact your claim for compensation in a civil lawsuit.

Your drunk driving accident lawsuit can proceed at the same time prosecutors pursue the driver’s conviction for DUI. In consultation with you, your Lake County drunk driving accident lawyer will make the strategic decision as to when best to file your claim. Sometimes, it may make more sense to wait until the resolution of the criminal case. That’s because if the driver is convicted or pleads guilty to a DUI charge, that criminal conviction can go a long way to establishing the civil liability needed to recover compensation.

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How a DUI Can Be Evidence of Negligence In Your Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit

In any Illinois car accident lawsuit, an injury victim must prove that the other driver was negligent and that the driver’s negligence caused the accident, injuries, and damages for which the victim is seeking compensation. Proving negligence can often be the most challenging part of a car accident lawsuit. But when police and prosecutors have provided convincing evidence of negligence through the prosecution and/or conviction of the driver for DUI, proving negligence can be significantly easier.

The evidence prosecutors use to obtain DUI convictions – police reports, blood, breath, or chemical tests, witness statements – can also be used by a plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit to prove negligence.

Even if the driver is found not guilty or does not face prosecution for DUI, any evidence collected by law enforcement that shows alcohol in the driver’s system can be used to establish their negligence. Just because a driver’s blood alcohol content was below Illinois’ legal limit does not necessarily mean he or she was not negligent or impaired.

About Kirk

Call Lake County Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Kirk Moyer Today For Your Free Consultation

For over two decades, Lake County drunk driving accident lawyer Kirk Moyer has made it his mission to help injury victims and their families through one of the most challenging ordeals they will ever face. Kirk brings compassion, respect, and understanding to his representation of clients who struggle every day with the physical, financial, emotional, and practical challenges that follow in the wake of a drunk driving accident. He has earned a reputation as a fierce and dedicated trial lawyer who treats every case and every client as the most important of his career, working tirelessly to obtain the maximum amount of compensation available as quickly as possible.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident in Lake County, Cook County, or Chicago, Kirk stands ready to help. Please give him a call at (847) 244-3444 to arrange for your FREE initial consultation.

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