Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol endangers the life of the driver and the lives of other road users. Illinois motorists may share the concern of many about the number of innocent victims who lose their lives in accidents where alcohol or drugs are involved. It is not uncommon for impaired drivers to face a wrongful death lawsuit after such accidents.
A 23-year-old man may be facing such a claim after a fatal accident that occurred in St. Charles on a recent Friday afternoon. The St. Charles police reported that the man crossed the center of the road for reasons not yet known. He allegedly crashed head-on into a car traveling in the opposite direction. The media report makes no mention of any injuries suffered by the man, but the driver of the other vehicle suffered critical injuries. She was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed to her injuries later that day.
The driver who allegedly caused the accident was taken into custody and is awaiting a bail hearing. He faces several charges, including aggravated DUI and controlled substance possession. In addition, he was charged with driving while under the influence of drugs and improper usage of traffic lanes. It was also claimed that he was driving on a license that had been revoked.
The Illinois family who lost a loved one in this accident may be facing high medical and end-of-life costs. Obtaining compensation for such expenses is possible by successfully litigating a wrongful death claim in a civil court. The plaintiff will have to provide sufficient evidence of negligence on the part of the alleged impaired driver, and the successful presentation of the claim may result in a monetary judgment to cover all damages related to the tragic accident.
Source: CBS Chicago, “Man Charged With DUI After Fatal Head-On Crash“, Nov. 29, 2014